Dancing with a prosthesis may not sound like the biggest obstacle after learning to walk and run, but it does bring a new set of challenges! More than this, though, it can bring a new level of joy into our lives. While all forms of upward mobility are important for our physical well-being, there’s something about shaking our hips to the beat of a song that can’t be replaced. Whether it’s for a wedding, a school event, hanging out with friends, exercising, or any other reason – learning to dance is great for both the mind and body. Keep reading for more information on why it’s so important and what to expect when hitting the dance floor.

Benefits of Dance

Dancing has numerous benefits for the human body. This includes improvements to muscular strength, aerobic fitness, weight loss, bone strength, and increasing the health of our heart and lungs.

Besides the physical benefits, there are many social benefits. It would be hard to argue that getting out, being active, and enjoying the night with friends is bad for you. All of this is even more true for those who’ve experienced limb loss.

Having the willpower to continue improving one’s body with a prosthesis can become an incredibly difficult task at times, but having a fun activity to focus on can make the experience much easier. Dancing also helps with certain movements that are important for everyday living!

Improving Your Moves

Dancing involves a lot of movement in a lot of directions, which is great for gait training. One of the most difficult aspects of most prosthetic devices is walking backwards. It’s certainly no walk in the park, but dancing classes provide a fun way of learning these reverse moves. In the case of dancing lessons, one step forward really is taking two steps back!

Just like other activities on a prosthesis, there will be multiple obstacles during the learning process, like soreness and control. However, having a great support group, a positive instructor, and a good attitude provide a path to perseverance.

Ask BioTech for More Information

We have decades of experience helping those with limb loss accomplish anything and everything that they desire. Don’t believe that we can help people improve their dancing skills? We actually helped Noah Galloway with his Dancing with the Stars appearance, along with preparing to rock climb and other activities! Contact us today to learn how we can turn your disabilities into possibilities.

Amy Purdy has inspired millions of people across the world with her seemingly endless resume of accomplishments. For most people, making it through a 2% chance of surviving would be impressive enough, but Amy continues to push past any perceived limits of success. Her story is truly an inspiration, not only to those who have experienced limb loss, but for anyone looking to better themselves and achieve the impossible.

Experiencing Limb Loss

Amy was already a motivated individual at the age of 19, but certain events were about to make or break her attitude towards self-productivity. This is when she contracted Meningococcal Meningitis, which began as flu-like symptoms — and then put her in septic shock within 24 hours. She later lost both of her legs, both kidneys, and her spleen. She would begin moving toward the use of prosthetic devices as soon as possible, and received a kidney from her father two years after she lost hers.

Staying Motivated

It didn’t take much to motivate Amy. Less than a year after receiving her prostheses, she was hitting the slopes! Not only was she snowboarding, she was winning awards while doing so. After placing third in a competition, the Challenged Athletes Foundation offered her a grant that would allow her to competitively snowboard across the United States.

Continued Success

Amy moved to San Diego in 2003. While she continued to work with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, she also explored many other interesting professions. Some of the amazing things Amy has done since then include:

• Actress – This includes everything from Madonna music videos to Super Bowl commercials and winning awards for lead roles in independent films. She also appeared on The Amazing Race and had a historic run on Dancing with the Stars!
• Author – Her 2014 book, On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life, was a New York Times Best Seller.
• Modeling – Amy starred in multiple projects, including a very impressive performance with Nikki Sixx.
• Motivational Speaker – Considering all of Amy’s other accomplishments, this one only made sense. Some of the most memorable have been a tour with Oprah Winfrey and a very quotable presentation at a TEDx Talk event in Orange Coast, California.
• Paralympic Athlete – Amy was a prominent figure in the 2014 games, and won the bronze medal in Snowboard Cross.

To sum it up, there is nothing Amy Purdy can’t do! She is a one-stop resource for all things motivational, and we look forward to witnessing her continued moments of greatness.

We Turn Disabilities into Possibilities

BioTech has been in the prosthetic and orthotic industry for over 15 years, and our combination of experience and innovation allows us to help our clients in unique ways. Individuals like Amy Purdy not only affirm what we do, but they motivate us to continue pushing forward. Contact us if you are interested in learning more about our process.

The idea of a personalized prosthesis may sound crazy. Many people view their prosthesis as a simple tool, a method of moving around. However, prosthetic devices create an ability to express who we are that would not normally be available. With an idea and an experienced prosthetist, the limb can become a work of art! But how does it happen?

Why It Matters

The process of getting a prosthetic device can be difficult. On top of that, having people bring it up all the time for whatever reason rarely brings encouragement. Many of our clients have told us that having a custom leg design creates a new sense of individuality and empowerment. We believe that having the power to showcase your personality is a wonderful addition in any aspect of life!

How It Works

When a client decides they want to customize their prosthesis, there are a number of options. The most affordable option would be prosthetic sleeve covers. These allow users to take whatever picture or design they want, and turn them into a sleeve that will wrap securely around the prosthetic. If that isn’t permanent enough for you, talk to your prosthetist about placing custom designs on your next prosthesis! For example, we have created many custom designs out of our carbon fiber prosthetics at the request of our amazing patients, including zebra stripes, camouflage, and of courses, sports teams!

Ideas

There is no limit to what you can have on your prosthesis! It is a part of you, so choose something that describes you the best. Being in the Southeast, we have many people who want to represent their favorite football team. A favorite design, symbol, or even a character from a movie can work. Don’t be afraid to get creative! We recently shared an article on our Facebook page about a girl that traveled the world with a chalkboard-like prosthesis, and wrote the name of each country she visited on her leg. Nothing is impossible, just let the dreams fly!

BioTech Can Help Find the Perfect Prosthesis

We have been working on custom prosthetic devices since 2000, and will always put a focus on what makes our clients the most comfortable. Our number one priority is our patient’s well-being and happiness, and we will do whatever it takes to give you the best experience. Contact us for more information.

Are you familiar with the name Aron Ralston? Even if you don’t think you know him, you know his story. His journey into the canyons of southeast Utah in 2003 ended with an unfortunate accident, resulting in his self-inflicted arm amputation to escape a fallen boulder. His story was described in his autobiography Between a Rock and a Hard Place, which was later converted to film through the movie 127 Hours. But what exactly happened in that canyon, and what is Aron up to now?

The Experience

One fateful April day in 2003, Aron Ralston decided he was going to venture around Horseshoe Canyon in a remote area of Utah. While it sounds like a pleasant weekend, it involved dangerous climbs, and he didn’t tell anyone where he was going. He spent the next five and a half days trying to figure out any way to get out from under the boulder and find help. After almost a week of unsuccessfully finding someone to lend him a hand, he realized he would have to lose his. We will skip the details, but the act was even more intense than it sounds. Even more impressive is that Aron tied his own tourniquet and proceeded to repel 60 feet to find help. The experience touched many people around the world and showed millions how far the human will to survive could go.

Life After

Aron had his autobiography published in 2004, which detailed much of his life with a specific focus on the harrowing tale at Horseshoe Canyon. He proceeded to appear in many entertainment platforms including The Simpsons, Tosh.0, and endless late night shows. The most famous of these ventures was, of course, the movie 127 Hours, starring James Franco. The film was nominated for 6 Oscars and propelled Aron and his story to the front of many conversations. Outside of the entertainment industry, he continues to climb and motivate others. Specialized gear like an ice axe, a specialized gripper, and a prosthesis that holds climbing gear provide more than enough support to take on the mountains. He also uses his newfound celebrity status to support charities and raise awareness for various causes.

BioTech Helps Transform Lives

Our passion is helping motivated individuals like Aron Ralston turn their dedication into tangible progress. We have years of experience in the industry and understand that growth is a constant battle, but one that is worth the fight. Contact us for more information on how we can transform your disabilities into possibilities — together.

Wheelchairs are a wonderful invention that help countless people move faster and more easily than they normally could. While certain situations require the use of a wheelchair and simply don’t allow the option for a prosthesis, there are other times that the option is available — it just hasn’t happened yet. Whether it is due to finance, pain, worry, or other factors, it is not unusual for those who have experienced limb loss to be hesitant about acquiring a prosthesis. Keep reading to learn more about the considerations of this transition.

Preparation

There will be a lot of tests, both physical and mental, before you can move out of your wheelchair, and preparation goes a very long way in assisting with these challenges. There are many different ways to help yourself:

• Plan Ahead – Recognize what you are going through now, consider the upcoming obstacles, and have a game plan ready! While it sounds simple, it is very important for pushing forward in tough times.
• Take Care of Yourself – This should always be a priority, but take extra care of the limb that will wear the prosthesis. Starting off comfortably will go a long way.
• Exercise – Research the specific muscles that will face the most strain, and work towards making them stronger. Understand that various parts of your body will feel new pressures, not just your affected limb.
• Talk to Your Prosthetist – They will have the experience and knowledge to help guide you towards the path of least resistance.

Practice

When you first start wearing your prosthesis, it may be difficult and frustrating. If you push through, keep learning, talk to your prosthetist, and keep a positive attitude, you will see that the experience becomes easier the more you do it. While practicing by yourself, make sure to walk on different surface types and perform various daily duties with your prosthesis on. Stay calm if you experience a setback (like falling) and keep moving forward — persistence will pay off!

Participate

This is important before and after the transition to a prosthesis. Having a community that you can talk to will make the process tremendously easier. Knowing that you are not alone in a situation is always comforting, and this is no exception. Walk with friends, check out sports teams, go to the movies, or whatever it is that gets you out and about. You also want to spend time and have good communication with your prosthetist. They will have perspective and updates that can only be achieved with years in the business, along with solutions to any problems you may face.

Let BioTech Help

Two of the biggest parts of walking on a prosthesis successfully are comfort and experience. BioTech provides the highest quality of both. Our personalized BioTech Comfort Socket System allows us to adapt each prosthesis to their individual owner, allowing for maximum comfort. Our team also has decades of experience with not only designing, but teaching, encouraging, and providing support in whatever way is needed. Learn more and contact us for more information.

Climbing Mt. Everest and reaching the summit is a task that only a select few can say they have accomplished. A miniscule amount of climbers can even make the journey to the base camp, and even the ones fortunate enough to get the opportunity don’t always make it to the top. It is a dangerous mission that is only meant for those who are both mentally and physically strong.

Tom Whittaker is one of those people.

Tom Whittaker lost his right foot after a car accident in 1979. He had already been physically active (he was a rock climber, rugby player, and had already summited Mount McKinley) before the wreck and decided to keep this mentality after. Along with regular workouts, he found which muscles to train that would offset the loss of his right leg and began to acquire a new form of balance. Training to hike any mountain is never easy, but climbing Mt. Everest with a prosthesis had literally never been done before. It would take new levels of determination and strength to reach the top.

Tom had two trips that were cut short before his historical ascent to glory in 1998. The first was in 1989 when he had almost reached 25,000 feet. A storm arrived and killed a total of six people. He would not get another attempt at the summit until 1995, when he almost reached the top. With only 1,500 feet remaining, Tom felt that he was moving too slowly on the rocks to make it to camp by nightfall and had to turn away from his decades-long goal. A friend and member of his crew brought him back a rock from the summit during that trip and told Whittaker to return it to the top for him.

Tom finally reached the summit of Mt. Everest on May 27th, 1998, and carved his name in history in that moment. His wife, Cindy, was there every step of the way, leading the crew into the Everest base camp and managing the monumental Everest Challenge ‘98. Tom Whittaker is not only a pioneer in prosthetic achievements, he should be an example of the truth that anything can be done, no matter what those around you say. It will not always be easy; in fact it will usually be difficult, but whatever challenge we are facing with a prosthesis or otherwise, we know we will be able to move past it.

BioTech Is Here to Help

We exist not only to provide you with the prosthesis and other equipment needed to feel comfortable daily, but to excel at whatever it is you want to accomplish. Our team has years of experience and enjoys seeing the people we work with continue to succeed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you move your mountain.