Biodapt Moto Knee | Action Sports Lower Leg Prosthetic
With roots in the 70s and 80s, growth in the 90s, and explosion in the new century, action (extreme) sports have come a long way in popularity. The worldwide popularity of the X-Games and inclusion of some sports in the Olympics prove that. Action sports athlete Mike Schultz caught onto that popularity and became a professional. But then during a snowmobile race in 2008 an accident both crushed and mangled his knee. This led to the amputation of his lower leg. Wanting to get back into action sports he tried some prosthetics but was left unsatisfied with the results. Which led him to desgin his own. The result was an action sports lower leg prosthetic called Moto Knee and a company named Biodapt.
One thing many action sports have in common is using the legs to stabilize and balance the body. Which is what Moto Knee is designed to do. Giving the athlete a sense of equal balance and resistance. With these characteristics the Moto Knee can be used by athletes who want to do sports such as snowboarding, wakeboarding, cycling, motocross, and more.
The look is very mechanical and functional where you can see all the moving parts. Which kinda fits the culture of action sports. The heart of the prosthetic’s motion and resistance are shocks that replicate quadricep muscles.
It should also be noted that Moto Cross is designed and meant to be used only when doing sports. It is not designed for normal everyday walking around. The following are some unique characteristics that Biodapt list for Moto Knee:
- adjustable extension assist that compares to quadriceps function
- adjustable speed sensitive hydraulic dampening
- Patented linkage to allow up to 135 degrees of knee flexion while keeping resistance throughout the full range of motion
- Socket stop/bumper to prevent socket or knee damage at full flexion
- Interchangeable inserts to allow variable resistance ratios for different activities
- Durable construction to withstand the high impacts from action sports
- Corrosion resistant parts for use in and around water
I’m not exactly sure what all that means but it does sound like they are ideal characteristics to have for an action sports prosthetic. For more on Bioadapt and Moto Knee watch the videos below and visit www.BiodaptInc.com.