Inspiring Amputee Athletes

Motivation and inspiration come from deep within yourself. They can be hard to find, especially when you are faced with challenges throughout your life. These 5 amputees have found that something special within them and managed to prove time and time again how, if you work hard enough, you can achieve your goals.

Amy Purdy

At the young age of 19 years old, snowboarder Amy Purdy contracted bacterial meningitis and had less than a 2% chance of living. However, she was able to prove the statistic wrong and pulled through with the loss of both of her legs below the knee and a kidney replacement from her father. She had started snowboarding at age 15 and did not want to give up on her dream. After her surgery she searched and searched for prosthetics that would allow her to continue her dream but was not having any luck, so she built her own. She remained involved in and co-founded Adaptive Action Sports, a non-profit organization which is a branch of Disabled Sports USA.  She has won several medals throughout her years, her most recent being the bronze medal in the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Aimee Mullins

Aimee Mullins was born with a condition called fibular hemimelia resulting in the amputation of both of her legs below the knee. Throughout her life, she engaged in numerous activities including softball, skiing, track and field, acting, and even modeling. She was the first amputee in history to compete in the NCAA. She also competed in the Paralympics in 1996 for track and field, setting world records in the 100-meter dash , 200-meter dash, and long jump.

Terry Fox

A Canadian favorite, Terry Fox discovered he had a malignant tumor in his right leg at the age of 19. He had his right leg amputated 6 inches above the knee but still had dreams of running. He began a charity event called The Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research and awareness. He ended up running over 3,339 miles and would have gone for more, but his cancer came back and he was forced to quit. Ultimately, cancer cost Terry his life but there is no doubt that Terry Fox had built himself a legacy and he proved that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. The Marathon of Hope fund now totals $27.8 million, which has been allocated to cancer research in the Terry Fox New Initiative Programs of the National Cancer Institute of Canada. The Terry Fox Foundation announced in 2014 that over $650 million had been raised to support cancer research in Terry's name.

Noah Galloway

Noah Galloway has proved himself time and time again of his hard work and dedication.  He was injured during the Iraq War, losing his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee. After all the events that were happening in Noah’s life, he embarked on a very long strenuous journey. Like too many war veterans, he was driven to self-destructive paths to cope with the loss. It took him some time to finally realize he was worth more and able to do more with his life so he began to turn things around. He set goals to get back in shape, to be healthier, and to ultimately inspire others. Today, Noah is a personal trainer- motivating, pushing, and cheering on his clients while also pushing himself. He has also become an amazing public speaker, traveling all over the country to share his story and inspire others to make a difference. One of his more recent appearances was on ABC’s hit series, Dancing With the Stars. He has created the “No Excuses Charitable Fund” to help raise money for organizations such as Operation Enduring Warrior and the YMCA of Alabaster, AL. He was also named the 2014 Ultimate Guy from Men’s Health Magazine.

Jessica Long

Like Aimee Mullins, Jessica Long was born with fibular hemimelia resulting in lower leg amputation at the age of 18 months. She was involved in many sports throughout her younger years, including cheerleading, ice skating, biking, and rock climbing- But nothing quite compared to swimming. She worked and worked to better herself and eventually enters the international stage at the 2004 Paralympic Games at the early age of 12, earning herself 3 gold medals. She has won multiple gold medals over 3 Summer Paralympics. She is truly a strong hearted and highly motivated woman and a big inspiration.

How to Train for a Race as an Amputee

With marathon season fast approaching, people have started to train and run more. Learning how to run with a prosthesis can be very challenging. At Great Steps O & P our experienced practitioners can guide you through the process. Our very own Fred Kjorlien has worked with Paralympic Runners for 1996 Atlanta Games. According to the Amputee Coalition of America, many people have found that when you break down training into five basic elements, it can be much easier to learn. The steps listed below have helped hundreds of transfemoral or AK amputees to relearn the skill of running:

1.         Trust is a must. Getting a prosthesis is a very big step for any amputee. Having confidence that your prosthesis will be there when you strike the ground is one of the most important aspects to relearning how to run. Most people accomplish this by reaching out with the prosthetic limb and landing squarely on the foot. You must ignore everything else and have full trust that your limb will be there.

2.         Backward extension. This step is when you push back against the socket wall and exert a forward force. The runner is basically reaching out with their prosthetic foot during swing but just before you strike the ground, the prosthetic leg pulls back forcefully creating a backward force. This movement will help accelerate the body forward thus creating an increase in speed. It will also give the runner the power to shift their body weight over their prosthetic, resulting in maximum performance.

3.         Sound limb stride. During this step the runner reaches out with their sound limb for an equal stride length. Runners should focus on taking longer strides with their sound limb by continuing to pull down and back through the prosthetic limb. Continue to extend the hip by pulling down and back into the socket to create more power and push with each stride.

4.         Symmetry. This step isn't so much about your stride, but more about your location. This step is designed to decrease the effort and simply help you relax as you start to get back into the groove of things. Runners should choose a comfortable jogging place with equal stride length for both limbs. Try to focus less on arm movement and more on maintaining stability over their prosthetic limb, creating more equal and relaxed strides overall.

5.         Arm Movements. Although it is important to mainly focus on your strides and stability, arm movement plays a role in your balance as well. The arm carriage is when you move your arms are in opposition to the movement of your legs. Here you focus on the swing and placement of the arms. Typically, elbows are flexed about 90 degrees and the hands are loosely closed just above chin level.

If running is something that you love, don’t give it up because of your prosthesis. If you decide that running is going to continue to be a part of your active lifestyle, along with these steps, you should discuss the various prosthetic options with one of our experienced practitioners. All it takes is one step in the right direction and you’re on your way!