Blade Runners cap the maximum fall damage at 96 health points or 9.6 health segments. Without the Blade Runners, the fall damage is capped at 97 instead. The type of blade that you use will depend on a number of factors: How tall you are (or how much space you have to fit in a running blade), your activities, your intentions and unfortunately, how much money you have/the support you can receive. Running blades really aren’t cheap and don’t tend to be covered under the NHS but there is loads of support out there with charities and organisations. I’m not an amputee, but I’m constantly in awe of what people can do,” Southard said. “That’s why we want to do anything we can to help people be the best that they can be and help them get to where they never thought they could be.” Other options to try is to rub your stump full of heavy-duty antiperspirant in the evening before you go to bed. I’ve tried this, and it helped with the sweating, but the deodorant irritated my skin. I know some amputees who have had Botox injections into their stump as well. How Do You Handle Rubbing, Chafing, and Blisters? I hope that more people have the opportunity to have a running blade, as I would completely feel lost without mine.

A blade, often made of carbon fibre, should last quite a while. I have run about 5,000 miles now and I am on my second running blade. Having said that, I normally run about 600+ miles a year through knee-high mud, through water obstacles and while climbing walls and cargo nets - my blade gets quite a beating! That independence is treasured for anyone, so a nonprofit in Nashville known as Amputee Blade Runners (ABR) is working to remedy that for amputees of all ages and interests around the country. For most blades, you can’t actually walk on them as well as run. This has to do with the length of a running blade.

Jamie Gane

Run straight ahead → perform a crouch-jump → at the last moment before hitting the ground while still in the air crouch again to activate sliding on landing and immediately jump again. Now if you try and imagine running on a trail, without being able to bend your ankle or twist your foot - that’s what running with a blade is like on uneven terrain. With my blade, because of the heel, I am actually okay with uneven terrain but I know lots of amputee runners don’t have the same luxury. I use this as my walking foot. You could also use this as a running foot if you wanted to. I use this foot to power hike, which is part of my training for ultramarathons.

Once accepted, you are asked to come into Nashville for about a week to be fitted and test out what you might want to do with your prosthesis. Also, thanks to partnerships with a Nike store that closed and donated the shoes to ABR, and the local Fleet Feet store, recipients also receive a single shoe without having to pay for both—a single-leg amputee only needs one. So, Fann and Fitzsimmons set up a nonprofit that helps people who need prosthetics by fitting, teaching how to use, and giving prosthetics to people who might not be able to afford them.

Running Blades - The Facts

It is advised to obtain this equipment as soon as possible. The pioneer will then be able to jump onto a Storage Container or Conveyor Splitter/ Merger, which makes factory building much easier. Over the years I’ve learned a lot—here are my tried-and-true tips to not only help other amputees, but to help give able-bodied runners a little insight into what amputees need to think of. I wasn’t a runner before my amputation, but my husband is a runner; when I was waiting for him at the finish line of a race cheering on runners, I admired them all crossing the finish line—they were totally exhausted, but feeling so proud of their accomplishment. It was at that moment that I decided that I wanted to give running a go, but I never knew how complicated the process would be as an amputee.

Walking speed is unaffected. To achieve a higher jump, slide before jumping. Bunny hop refers to a series of slide-jumps instead of running normally. This seems to bring up "walking" speed to almost 20m/s on level surface, or even higher boost on downhill slope. For uphill slope, this only works up to a small incline (comparable to an 8x1 ramp). You can use it to cut corners or even go reverse if performed correctly. For additional speed you can perform a slide jump atop a forward moving conveyor belt (preferably Mk.5). This foot seems to be a popular choice among amputee athletes. It comes with great tread, and the Ossur brand has been around for a long time, so it’s a trusted brand. I did test out this foot, and I found it heavier than the Fillauer Obsidian—it just didn’t move with me as well as the Fillauer foot did. More on LinersAs a general rule, a blade which is designed for sprinting is generally longer than those designed for marathons due to the extra force exerted while sprinting. I’m sure a lot of us have heard about Oscar Pistorius’ court case (the running blade one, not the murderous one). There was a discussion as to whether having two running blades offered him a competitive advantage over able-bodied runners. Now although the rules only really matter with high-level competitions, there are strict rules within running blades. A competitor must not be seen to have a running blade which shows an “unrealistic enhancement of stride length". This only really counts when an athlete has two running blades because the length of both legs can be increased, giving an individual an advantageous stride length. Because of this, athletes are only allowed prosthetic limbs or feet that add a 3.5% margin to their estimated height. Join Runner’s World+ today for exclusive access to training advice, nutrition tips, and the latest news! The Basics of a Prosthetic Leg Buying a prosthesis isn’t cheap. That price doubles if you need a second one, or is slightly more if you want a running blade.