TAA 043: Meet Peter Franzel, Head of Events & Exhibitions at Ottobock

TAA 047: Meet Chris Rains, talking about sports as a key element in his rehabilitation, being a peer mentor, and a ROMP climbing team member

This month's guest is Chris Rains, who lost one of his legs during a horrible car crash. Chris and I talk about the role sports played in his recovery, the organisations that allowed him to try out various outdoor activities, and his participation in one of the Range of Motion Project's climbs to raise funds and awareness for others people affected by limb loss and limb difference.   

To learn more about Chris, follow him on Instagram.

Organisations mentioned during the podcast:

• ClickMedical - for more information click here of follow them on Instagram.
• The Beautifully Flawed Foundation  - for more information click here of follow them on Instagram.
• The Range of Motion Project - for more information click here of follow them on Instagram.
• The Challenged Athletes Foundation - for more information click here of follow them on Instagram.
• The Kirstie Ennis Foundation - for more information click here of follow them on Instagram.

TAA 046: Five take-aways from the January Walking Challenge

Learning from my January Walking Challenge. 

The idea was simple. I walked each and every day during the month of January. I started gently with one kilometre on January 1st. Two kilometre on January 2nd. Three on January 3rd and so on. You get the idea. I did this until the middle of the month. January 16th was the pivoting point with a whopping sixteen kilometres. And then I slowly decreased the daily dose of walking. One kilometre at a time. So January 17th I walked fifteen kilometres. And so on. So by the end of the month I was back to a leisurely one kilometre. 

January is over. The challenge is completed. And here is what I learned.

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For more information, visit The Active Amputee.

The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza

To learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following links

The Active Amputee Blog

The Active Amputee on Instagram

The Active Amputee on YouTube

The Active Amputee on Twitter

The Active Amputee on 

TAA 045: Join me for the January Walking Challenge

Here is my end of the year call to action. Join me for the January Walking Challenge. The idea is simple. We walk each and every day during the month of January. We start gently with one kilometre on January 1st. Two kilometre on January 2nd. Three on January 3rd and so on. You get the idea. We do this until the middle of the month. January 16th is the pivoting point with a whopping sixteen kilometres. And then we slowly decrease the daily dose of walking. One kilometre at a time. So January 17th we walk fifteen kilometres. And so on. So by the end of the month we are back ton a leisurely one kilometre. 

If this is too much, there is a second option: You chose you own daily goal. Let's say three kilometres. And then you make sure you take a three-kilometre walk each and every day. 

Are you in? I am looking forward to hearing from you. And if you feel like it, follow me on Instagram for updates on my January Walking Challenge. 

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For more information, visit The Active Amputee.

The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza

To learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following links

The Active Amputee Blog

The Active Amputee on Instagram

The Active Amputee on YouTube

The Active Amputee on Twitter

The Active Amputee on 

TAA 044: Staying safe outdoors in winter - despite an amputation

So, today is November 15th. And that means it's less than two weeks until the beginning of Advent on the one hand and the official start of winter on the other (at least meteorologically, if not yet in terms of the calendar). Winter is - in my eyes - a great time. I enjoy it every year anew: The long evenings, the cozy hours at home, and the quality time with family and friends. And as you all know, I'm also someone who likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in winter. Something that is not always easy after a transfemoral amputation. 

I can well imagine that many of you who are struggling with various limitations in your lower limbs are hesitant - maybe even fearful - when it comes to being active outdoors in winter. To help you overcome some of these fears and to encourage you to enjoy the winer season with confidence, here are a few tips from me. 

But before we get started, a quick disclaimer up front: I have been an above-knee amputee since 2005. And I  get on very well with my prosthesis - a Genium X3 from Ottobock. I walk a lot and feel comfortable, especially off the beaten track. And as I'm otherwise relatively fit, I'm not afraid of falling. If I slip and fall, well, so be it.

So the following tips and tricks are things that work for me. Of course, this may be completely different for one or the other of you. Please keep this in mind when you hear my tips.

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For more information, visit The Active Amputee.

The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza

To learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following links

The Active Amputee Blog

The Active Amputee on Instagram

The Active Amputee on YouTube

The Active Amputee on Twitter

The Active Amputee on 

TAA 043: Meet Peter Franzel, Head of Events & Exhibitions at Ottobock
Today's guest is Peter Franzel, who can look back at a decade and a half of being involved in the Ottobock's technical support services for para-sport events. If you want to learn more about Ottobock's support for big sport events or if you want to find out where the next running clinic takes place and how to get involved, please check out the Ottobock homepage. 

Additional information can be found on a variate of social media platforms.
Ottobock on Instagram.
Ottobock on LinkedIn.
Ottobock on Youtube.

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For more information, visit The Active Amputee.

The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza

TAA 042: Meet Sydney Marshburn, Events & Outreach Manager for ROMP
Today's guest is Sydney Marshburn, an above-knee amputee from the US. Sydney is passionate about advocating for people with disabilities, she openly shares her story with the world through social media, and is a mentor to those facing chronic illness/limb loss. She is an events and outreach manager for the Range of Motion Project, an adjustability mentor for Click Medical, and an ambassador for Lindhextend. Sydney dreams of representing Team USA at the LA2028 Paralympic Games.

Follow Sydney’s journey on Instagram.

For more information about ROMP, please visit their website.

For more information about Linda Extend, please visit their website.

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For more information, visit The Active Amputee.

The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza

TAA 041: Meet Jennifer Howland, the VP Marketing, Sales and Product at Click Medical
I had the chance to catch up with the Click Medical team during its visit to Germany. So I used the opportunity to talk with Jen about the importance of adjustability in general and about the approach Click Medical has taken to enable people affected by limb loss and limb differences to live an active and exciting life style.

Learn more about Joe, Click Medical, and devices to adjust a socket, please visit the Click Medical homepage. You can also take this quiz to find out if RevoFit® is right for you.

TAA 040: Meet Jimmy Capra, co-founder and CEO of Click Medical
I had the chance to catch up with the Click Medical team during its visit to Germany. So I used the opportunity to talk with Jimmy about the importance of adjustability in general and about three exciting new products more specifically. 

Learn more about Joe, Click Medical, and devices to adjust a socket, please visit the Click Medical homepage. You can also take this quiz to find out if RevoFit® is right for you.

TAA 039: Meet Kyle Stepp, para triathlete, community organizer, and activist
We kick off 2023 with an interview with Kyle Stepp. Kyle is a para-athlete, a community organizer, and disability rights activist. In today's show, he talks about dedicating your life to using your pain for a bigger purpose and turning a privilege into a responsibility to give back.

Learn more about Kyle and his initiatives, please visit him on Instagram.

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For more information, visit The Active Amputee.

The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza

TAA 038: Meet Joe Mahon, the founder of Click Medical
Today I have Joe Mahon on the show. Joe is an experienced prosthetist, the co-founder of Click Medical, and the inventor of Click Medical’s RevoFit® dial that allows prosthetic users to adjust their sockets on the go.

Learn more about Joe, Click Medical, and devices to adjust a socket, please visit the Click Medical homepage. You can also take this quiz to find out if RevoFit® is right for you.

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For more information, visit The Active Amputee.

The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza