I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Sports Design and Engineering, and for my individual project, I am designing a prosthetic leg specifically for below-the-knee amputees in the sport of bouldering.

Bouldering, a form of rock climbing that does not require ropes, presents a unique challenge for amputee climbers. Through my user research, I found that many amputees tend to avoid bouldering due to the risk of falling and landing on their prosthetic. Traditional prosthetic legs are not designed to absorb high-impact forces, which can result in injury to the residual limb.

My design addresses this issue by incorporating a linkage system that redirects impact forces to a flexible plate, which effectively absorbs the shock. Currently, the prosthetic is in the prototyping and testing phase, with further refinements and evaluations planned to optimise its performance.

Initial Research

Interviews were conducted with amputee rock climbers and able bodied climbers to better understand user needs and bouldering techniques and muscle groups involved. 

Initial Concepts 

Product design specifications were established and initial concepts were sketched.

First Mechanical Prototype