By James Feichtner
For many individuals with prosthetic limbs, continuing to carry out normal day-to-day activities can be challenging. This is just the case for Indiana resident and young Army veteran Mike Black, who lost his left leg in 2008 after a landmine exploded during a tour in the Middle East.
Black is currently using a prosthetic limb and he is no stranger to the difficulties that come with it.
“It’s been rough. There’s been up times and there’s obviously been down times. It’s hard to really want to get motivated and to do much; walking through pain and trying to run,” Black said.
With Black being someone who enjoys an active lifestyle, he misses the ability to get up and go, especially when it comes to running.
“I’m a really active person so I really don’t like to be off my feet, per se,” he said.
But thanks to the efforts of local prosthetic craftman Matthew Habecker, Black’s days of running are close at hand. Habecker has designed a custom prosthetic foot for Black that is specifically meant for running, allowing him to get back to his active lifestyle.
“It’s a new version of a running foot that has two different carbon fiber leaf springs that can allow for a little bit more energy return and release. Certain carbon fiber feet are constructed in a way for the best bio-mechanic properties. It replicates as best as possible the foot that he [Black] has lost,” Habecker said.
With the final touches being made for a truly custom fit, Black is thrilled that he will be able to continue running.
“I haven’t been able to run for about six months now. I’m really looking forward to running. Running is one of those things I really enjoy and I kind of miss that,” Black said.
It wasn’t just the running limb that brought Habecker and Black together. Habecker has been treating Black for several years now. Since their time working with one another, Blacks way of life has improved tremendously.
“One of the biggest things that helped me was coming to Matt. All my prosthetics previous to coming to Matt didn’t feel comfortable at all. And that’s one of the biggest things is feeling comfortable all day long. Being able to wear it as long as possible,” Black said.
Habecker, who is the Clinical Director of the Indiana Institute for Prosthetics at Zionsville Medical Center, deals with variety of jobs in the field. From bionic arms to prosthetic limbs, IIP provides customs solutions for patients all over Indiana.
“This clinic has really turned into a boutique clinic. We see the hard to fit cases from around the state. Every prosthesis is customized,” Habecker said
Habecker said he really enjoys his work as well. Being able to help improve the lives of his patients is quite gratifying.
“I think being able to literally walk alongside somebody [with a prosthesis]and really, in this part of their life, helping them to find the good in the situation, but then also to be involved with restoring a part of them that was lost and getting them back to enjoying life is a pretty profound reward in and of itself. It’s a joy and a privilege, really an honor to help patients in this way,” Habecker said.
For more on how Indiana Institute for Prosthetics is helping veterans like Black, visit www.indianaprosthetics.com.
