Prosthetic Equipment List
Prosthetic Equipment list
Helpful products and tips for use after amputation or when using a lower limb prosthesis.
While preparing for their child’s treatment many parents ask, “Will we need lots of special equipment?”.
In most cases, everyday baby items are suitable for use while your child is undergoing treatment, although some may need slight adjustments. There is also some equipment available that is specially designed to accommodate prosthetic legs.
Steps asked families who have experienced amputation and using a prosthetic leg to share the products and adaptations that made day-to-day life easier during treatment.
Every child’s treatment journey is different, and not all suggestions will be suitable for all children, so we recommend you discuss and share experiences with other families in our Facebook groups. Some products are designed for babies, while others are suitable for older children. We hope this list helps you feel more prepared and supported.
Please note that some of the products recommended are no longer in production, but we have marked these with an asterisk (*) as families tell us that they have found suitable equipment second hand.
This is not medical advice, and Steps does not endorse any of these products or the purchase of previously owned equipment. These are suggestions gathered from parents. It is important that individuals ensure the safety and suitability of a product for their child.
Car Seats and Travel
It is highly likely that your child will fit in their standard car seat and no adjustments or special equipment will be needed.
Some parents find that a high amputation, or bilateral leg amputation, may result in the child easily slipping out of the between leg harness.
If your child does not feel comfortable either due to the prosthesis or the absent limb making them feel unbalanced, it is recommended that you do not add any parts to adapt their car seat (e.g. cushions), as this could affect their safety in the event of an accident, causing injury to your child, and may invalidate your car insurance.
What our families say:
“Get a car with a big boot for wheelchair and all the legs.”
Used by parents:
- Rotating car seats (allow easy access for strapping in)
- Crelling Car Harness (should be worn in additional to normal seat belt)
Prams, buggies and wheelchairs:
Your child will probably fit into a standard pram/buggy.
As with car seats, some consideration might be needed for older children and prams/buggies which rely primarily on a crotch strap to keep a child in place may not be suitable.
Appropriately sized crutches, walking frames, and wheelchairs are usually supplied by the NHS and the majority of parents are happy with these devices. Some parents find the NHS equipment bulky or difficult to transport and opt to purchase an alternative. Talk to your clinic about a personal wheelchair budget which can be used to help you buy a wheelchair you prefer.
What our families say:
“We used a Bugaboo pram – he sat in the pram unit with reins for 12 months then the seat unit until the age of 6.”
“Get a good wheelchair and have it regularly maintained.”
“Always check if your hospital can provide a suitable wheelchair before hiring or purchasing.”
“Ensure crutches take weight through the hands, not under the armpits.”
“Kaye walking frames have been very helpful.”
Used by parents (check specific model for suitability):
- Hospital wheelchair (Supplied by hospital)
- Hospital crutches/walking frames (Supplied by hospital)
- Crutch pads/Crutch grip handle covers (To protect the hands when using crutches regularly)
- Wheelchair cape/Poncho (Keeps the whole body and chair dry)
- Cool Crutches (Fun designs for children)
- Maclaren Major Elite buggy (Sturdy and wide)
- Bugaboo pram (Easy to manoeuvre)
- TinyTrax (Children’s electric wheelchairs)
- Whizz Kids (Range of mobility aids including for the under 5s, they also advise on getting funding support)
- Kaye/RMS Quest walking frame* (Suitable for children)
Seating
The need for specialist or adjusted seating will depend on your child’s seated balance and level of amputation.
If the amputation is above the knee, your child may feel imbalanced when sitting with or without the prosthetic and some modular adaptations might be suitable.
What our families say:
“Took us a while to find a chair that suited our child. A Bambach Saddle style chair has been invaluable.”
“He has a Breezi highchair supplied by OT with arms.”
Used by parents:
- Wheelchair with lap tray
- Adapted feeding chair/Postural highchair
- Breezi highchair with arms (Adjustable as child grows)
- Bambach Saddle seat (Weight is not placed through upper thigh, requires balance)
Playtime
While you don’t need a special limb to take part in activities, some families do find them beneficial. The NHS funds activity limbs, for children under 18, to support and promote activity. Common activity limbs include running legs (blades), waterproof legs and legs adjusted for a specific activity.
School age children often move between running and walking and some find that a running blade is suitable for everyday use. For more information on the type of activity limb your child may require, speak to the physiotherapist at your limb centre.
Any form of physical activity which involves the leg, such as walking, running, jumping, requires more energy for a child with amputation compared to their peers. This means your child may experience more fatigue than other children of the same age.
What our families say:
“I use a neoprene sleeve for sandy places (you shake it over the skin where the sand is and it drops off).”
“Don’t beat yourself up when they play on consoles when they need to rest and get an iPad for all the appointments.”
“Keep them as active as they can be, when they can be, and go with the flow when they can’t wear prostheses and get bored and stroppy.”
“Swimming is good for exercise and muscle movements.”
Used by parents:
- NHS sports limbs
- Games console (For when they are physically tired and need some stimulation)
- Antislip foot covers (Is usually required when taking off shoes)
- Shoe horn (For putting shoes back on)
- Neoprene sleeve
- LimbO or Sealcuff waterproof cover (Allows limb to be protected when left beside a pool/in a damp environment)
Sleeping
Phantom limb pain can be worse at night, and the changed body mechanics can make it difficult for a child to get comfortable. Use of pillows or cushions can help get a comfortable position, but it is important to follow any advice from your clinical team about healing or keeping the child in a safe sleeping position.
What our families say:
“A towel warmer helps get liners/comfort socks warm on cold winter mornings.”
“If you get phantom pains it can help to do your stretches before bed.”
Used by parents:
- Posture wedge (To support the residual limb)
- Bed guards (To prevent rolling out of bed)
- Towel warmer (for prosthetic socks on cold mornings)
Clothing
It can sometimes be difficult to find clothes, particularly shoes, that fit comfortably and effectively with a prosthesis, especially if the foot on the artificial limb differs in size from your child’s remaining foot. Modern prostheses are usually slim but sometimes fitting clothes over them can be challenging.
What our families say:
“If you find that the size of your child’s prosthetic foot does not match their remaining foot, ask for one in the right size, as they may not have noticed the difference when fitting!”
“Don’t be surprised if the shoe on the prosthetic foot becomes misshapen or the sole wears out faster than on the intact foot.”
Used by parents:
- Shoes with laces (Easier to fit on prosthetic foot)
- Wellies with handles (Easier pull on)
- Waterproof snow or ski boots (Zip up for easy use)
- Velcro on the sides of trousers (Easy fit)
- Iron on patches (Reinforce trousers where prosthesis rubs)
- Wide-legged ‘bootleg’ jeans (Easy fit)
Skincare/washing
In the first few days following surgery, it’s best to clean your child with a damp sponge to avoid getting the cast wet.
After the cast has been removed, you will need to talk to an occupational therapist about the safest way for your child to bathe or shower.
It is also very important to keep the residual limb and the inside of the prosthetic socket clean and free from bacteria.
What our families say:
“I now have a stool by the bath which my son can climb into as he gets out, wrap him in a proper dressing gown and then I lift him from the stool, not the bath- still not ideal but that extra height really helps.”
Used by parents (for all creams check for suitability with your clinician):
- Spare limb socks (Replace throughout day as the residual limb will sweat into the sock)
- Silicone socket liner and spares (Hypoallergenic barrier between skin and socket)
- Shower chair (To allow safe, seated showering)
- Resilience prosthetic salve (Specially for amputees)
- Dermol lotion (Antimicrobial moisturiser)
- Aveeno cream (Moisturising gentle)
- Childs Farm unfragranced baby wash (Cleaning, gentle)
- Sudocrem (Creates barrier overskin)
- E45 cream (Soothing)
- Cold-Pressed Organic Coconut Oil (Soothing overnight around socket rub areas)
Other items and general advice from parents
What our families say:
“Baby wipes are great for a quick clean-up of your prosthetic.”
“Get STRONG as you will carry your child loads.”
“I keep WD40 and compressed air, in case the pin sticks.”
“Always have waterproof clothing and picnic blankets. Spare shoes and change of clothes. Always carry a backpack on the wheelchair for carrying items.”
“When I’m at a clinic appointment, I put sticky coloured dots (like the ones you use at school) on my stump to show where the pressure/sore points are.”
Used by parents:
- Blue badge
- WD40
- Small tool kit with screwdriver (For tightening screws while out and about)
- Plastic bags (To put around a prosthesis when near sand or water)
- Sticky coloured dots (For indicating pressure points at clinic appointments)
Contact Steps Charity via email info@steps-charity.org.uk (or to leave a voicemail call 01925 750271) with any questions you have.
