comfort – Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior

Cutting Edge Comfort

By bawarrior | November 20, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:23 — 26.7MB)

Bionic Skins: Working Towards the Perfect Fit

We all want to feel our best, and live a life without pain, but at times it seems so out of reach for us amputees.

Donning a prosthesis that is suppose to emulate a real leg gets the job done but, trust me, it is far from comfortable and often it becomes such a painful devise that amputees choose not to wear it for too long, even taking days off from wearing it, leaving them feeling incomplete and frustrated.

Today I wanted to share with you an extraordinary company, created by Dr. Hugh Herr-bilateral below knee amputee, MIT professor and co-leader of the Yang Center for Bionics at MIT, Bionic Skins is changing the comfort game for the better.

Lauren and Eric head up the Bionic Skins headquarters in Bedford, Mass. and graciously came on my podcast to share what Bionic Skins is, how it works, and the hopes and aspirations Hugh and his team have for building a better and more comfortable prosthesis for the amputee community.

Eric is the “numbers guy”, checking stats, running the biometrics of the patients and making sure the measurements taken are accurate…

among other hats he wears for the company.

Lauren is the prosthetist; working with the patients, creating the sockets,

and making sure the fit is everything it should be for comfort and durability.

As we sit down and talk you can see how bright the future is for amputees. The technology is getting better and the understanding of what is needed for improving the quality of life for amputees is increasing. More research is being done, and talking with amputees helps bridge the gap of what we currently have, what we struggles with, and what is still needed to live actively and without restrictions.

Bionic Skins is doing just that. They are currently work with patients, and taking new patients, that are below knee amputees all the while continuing to research, build studies, and improve on the technology that they are producing in house and through MIT’s Media Lab.

Check out their website HERE

You can also follow them on social Media platforms like Instagram and Facebook @bionicskins to stay up to date on their research and studies in which you may qualify to take part.

Also, you can listen to my interview with Hugh Herr, himself, from this past April, on my podcast HERE

Hugh and I discuss Bionic Skins toward the end of my interview where he discusses his design and how it was created.

Thank you again, Lauren and Eric, for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us about the incredible work you’re doing to improve our lives. You are amazing people! Keep doing what you’re doing and I look forward to checking in with you again in the near future!

I hope you’ve enjoyed, and found promise for a brighter future, listening to today’s podcast. Please remember to like, share and SUBSCRIBE to my podcast and my YouTube channel so you don’t miss an episode!

Have an amazing week and as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

Much love,

Dr Hugh Herr-Founder of Bionic Skins and “Yours Truly’ all set up for a gait study I did last year at MIT.

If the Shoe Fits

By bawarrior | October 14, 2021

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:39 — 34.5MB)

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What You Wear Makes a Difference

Did you know that as an amputee the type of shoe we wear can make all the difference in our performance and outcome of wearing a prosthetic? When I was learning to walk for the first time I needed a shoe that was stable and would help me be more balanced. Now, 2 1/2 years later, I need a shoe that is rugged and can take me to mountain tops.

Depending on your newness of being an amputee and your level, or desired level, of activity, the shoe you wear can help you or hurt you.

I realized that last week when I just didn’t feel good in my newest socket…then I looked down and realized I wasn’t wearing a normal athlete shoe. Once I changed what I was wearing I literally felt so much better and my socket wasn’t hurting me like it had been!

I don’t like changing my shoes out very often, it’s hard to reach my foot, and some shoes are stiffer than others which makes putting them on a two person job.

Below are my typical shoes I wear weekly.

My Adidas! ❤ These are incredible for stability and balance!

Saucony Trail. Great for road walking and being active.

Oboz. Awesome hiking boots… and waterproof!

I live in these three shoes throughout the week. They are great for a variety of activities.

Are you having issues with your knee(s), hip, back? Check your shoes. What are you wearing? Are they old and worn out? Are you using the wrong type of shoe for the wrong activity?

Are you an amputee and feel unstable? Your shoe might have something to do with that. Look into Adidas or Van Shoes, you might be surprised the difference they will make.

Make changes to the type of shoes you are wearing this week and see if that simple change helps your situation.

You may be pleasantly surprised, I know I was!

And as always: