Hey List,
Thanks to all who gave their real life experience with these feet. I’ll let
the posts speak for themselves. I wholeheartedly agree that Otto Bock does
provide me with some of the best customer service in the business.
Lisa Urso, CPO
ORIGINAL QUESTION (condensed):
Regarding Otto Bock’s prosthetic feet, the Axtion and LuXon Journey, what
kind of feedback are you getting from your patients? My patient is a 34 yo,
active, long BKA female who likes to hike, rides horses, and plays softball. She
does not want another foot with bumpers in it; she needs a dependable, light
weight, energy return foot that can handle uneven
terrain.
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RESPONSES:
I have fit several Luxon Journey feet. One patient commented that he had a
much easier time walking on uneven ground, and when he was standing on a
downward slope he didn’t feel like he was being pitched forward. Pt. is a 55 y.o.
male, K3, medium-short BK.
I believe the Axtion is supposed to provide a higher level of energy return
(but at the cost of accommodating the ground). Otto Bock usually has a good
return policy on their feet if you’re exchanging for another in the Springlite
line, so you may want to try one, and if the patient isn’t pleased, try the
other.
Have you looked at the Freedom Feet? I’ve been really surprised at the
smooth roll-over they provide, even with the ‘less forceful’ ambulators.
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Depending on how long her limb is, I would put her in a low profile variflex
or cut a Mod III down as far as you are able. They are from Ossur, formerly
Flex Foot. No moving parts, no elastomer. The action on the Springlite/Otto
Bock feet is poor at best.
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I would recommend trying them both on the woman and letting her choose. I
find that I cannot predict what foot an individual will like and the person will
be able to give you feed back almost instantly. Then, you return the other
and you have a most satisfied client. Unless she doesn’t like either one…
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I tried the Luxon foot on a 58 yr old short BK who found the foot to be too
stiff. She is a very active patient who engages in horse back riding (western
style), high impact gardening (uses prosthesis to drive shovel instead of sound
foot). Paient destroys bumpers on College Park Tru Step every other month
and has returned to Flex Foot use. I have no experience
with the Axtion foot. Hope this helps.
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Check out the Talux from Ossur-no replaceable bumpers, better flexibilty than
the feet you mentioned and good dynamic response. You can order them in
categories to dial it in, based on height, weight, etc. If she was my pt., that’s
what I would try first. All my pt.’s have loved it and if I was an amputee,
that’s what I would want!
Luxon Journey would be a reasonable choice. Personally, I have used the
Journey only for AK’s at this point but not any BK’s. I do like it but think it is
probably less flexible than the Talux.
If clearance is a problem, Ossur makes a new foot that is also smooth like
the Talux but has a lower profile. I haven’t used it yet so I don’t have any
first hand info.
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I don’t have any info on the OttoBock feet but I have used the Axia from
OSSUR and have had good results with someone similar to your patient’s profile.
My preference would be a LP Renegade for an active, lightweight foot with good
energy return. The cosmetics of the Axia are excellent and are a big
improvement on OSSUR feet. I am not ususally a fan of OSSUR products but this is a
good direction for their foot line. Hope this helps.
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I just returned an Axtion foot for a 50 year old hiker because it was too
rigid. I will try the College Park Tru Step for the multiaxial features.
We also had an AK C-leg wearer patient tell us that the heel flattened on her
and she did not like it, however, we have used several Axtion feet and
overall are happy with the product.
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I HAVE USED ABOUT 12 OF THE JOURNEY FEET AND WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT THE
YOUNGER, MORE ACTIVE PATIENTS ARE VERY HAPPY WITH IT BUT THE BASIC
COMMUNITY AMBULATORS WHO MAY HAVE HAD AN UNDERLYING BALANCE PROBLEM THAT HAS
BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE AMPUTATION HAVE A HARD TIME ADJUSTING TO THE MOVEMENT
IN THE FOOT. I THEN SWITCHED 2 PATIENTS INTO THE AXTION FOOT AND THEY LOVED
IT. I HAVE ONLY USED ABOUT 5 OF THE AXTION FEET AND THEY HAVE SO FAR SOLVED MY
PROBLEM WITH THE LOW COMMUNITY AMBULATORS WHO DO NOT PREFER ALL OF THE
MOVEMENT OFFERED BY THE JOURNEY. QUITE A FEW OF THE PATIENTS IN THE JOURNEY FOOT
ARE LONG TIME AMBULATORS WHO HAVE HAD SEVERAL MULTI-AXIAL
FEET AND THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN BY FAR THE FAVORITE. I HAD ONE OF THE JOURNEY
FEET DEVELOP A SQUEEKING PROBLEM AT THE BALL SOCKET JOINT AND OTTO BOCK WAS
INCREDIBLE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AS THEY NEXT DAY
AIRED ME THE REPLACEMENT FOOT AT NO COST NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
PS- I STRONGLY RECOMMEND OTTO BOCK AS THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN
INCREDIBLE FOR ME.
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I am getting ready to use an Axtion… but have used the Journey and have
been informed that it is the most anatomical functioning foot the patient has
ever used. I would have to agree after the evaluation, I highly recommend it!
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End Posts
