Sports prostheses can be fitted at an early age, sometimes from 3 to 4 years old, depending on the type of sport and the child's motor development. We make sure the prosthesis fits your child's growth stage and activity level.
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Sports is of course much more than just active exercise. Sport is a source of building self-confidence and having fun. Especially for children and teenagers. For children with an amputation or congenital defect, the right sports prostheses make an active lifestyle (again) possible. At Amputee Care Center, we assist young athletes from Belgium and the Netherlands with specialised prostheses.
Interested in a sports prosthesis for your child? We would like to invite you for a free, no-obligation introductory consultation.
Contact us by completing the Contact Form or by calling +32 (0)470 500 888.
We are at your service.
As an aid for a child or teenager with an amputation or congenital defect, sports prostheses are at least as important during sports as sports shoes or a racket. A sports prosthesis is always made specifically for a particular sport and tailored to the body. For children and teenagers, this ultimately means much more than just gaining speed or strength. A sports prosthesis helps to build confidence, push boundaries and compete with peers without running into physical obstacles. A good sports prosthesis is comfortable and also reduces the risk of injury.
Every child or teenager is different and so every child also has different needs and wishes. At Amputee Care Center, we therefore customise sports prostheses for teenagers and youngsters to suit your child's life stage and activities. We listen to the young athlete and you as parents, and together we look for the best solution.
When making a sports prosthesis for young people, the children's orthopaedics team at the Amputee Care Center always looks at age, growth stage, specific sport and ambitions, among other things. For young athletes with a leg prosthesis or arm prosthesis, there are special models that are lighter and can grow with them.
Want to know more? Then come and see us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Contact us by completing the Contact Form or by calling +32 (0)470 500 888.
We are at your service.
For children and teenagers with leg amputation, we make special sports prostheses for sports with a lower leg prosthesis or upper leg prosthesis. We make sports leg prostheses extra light to make them even more comfortable during sports, helping to increase your sports performance.
These “blades”, known from e.g. the Paralympics, store energy and return it with every step. They are ideal for athletics and sprinting, as well as for simply running on the athletics track. Popular blade feet at Amputee Care Center among youngsters include the Össur Flex-Run Junior, Ottobock Sprinter Junior and Freedom Innovations Catapult Junior. These are prosthetic blades that we fully align and optimise for use.
For sports such as football, basketball or gymnastics, we make flexible and shock-absorbing prosthetics that support fast lateral movements. At the Amputee Care Center (ACC), for example, the Ottobock Challenger and College Park Soleus Junior are frequently chosen by young people.
We also make water-resistant prostheses made of lightweight material, with or without a swim fin adapter. These are ideal for swimming lessons or for competitive swimming, water polo or if you just want to go to the beach. At Amputee Care Center, we customise all swimming prostheses with, for example, Ottobock or other aqualine components.
Cycling should be made possible for everyone. We design and make all kinds of special bicycle prostheses with customised links to the pedal to enable safe and sporty cycling. Each bicycle prosthesis for teenagers and young adults is fully customised to your body, your bike and wishes by our orthopaedic instrument makers at the Amputee Care Center (ACC).
With a specially adapted football prosthesis, you can run briskly, kick and change direction quickly without compromising stability. You feel freer on the pitch and keep your balance more easily during quick actions or duels. This way, you play to your full potential and increase the fun as well as your performance in the game.
A ski or snowboard prosthesis is extra strong, waterproof and adapted to sharp turns, impacts and cold. You maintain your balance at speed and can powerfully push off or steer, even on challenging terrain. As a result, you enjoy the slopes to the full, with more control and confidence on every descent.
Contact us by completing the Contact Form or by calling +32 (0)470 500 888.
We are at your service.
For children and teenagers with an arm amputation, we make special arm and hand sports prostheses tailored to your body and the type and level of sport you play. You switch activities smoothly thanks to interchangeable handles or paddles, for example. We design our sports prostheses extra-light to make them even more comfortable during sports, helping to boost your performance.
Tennis and padel
For tennis or paddle, you can opt for a sports prosthesis with a customised racket holder, allowing you to use the racket firmly without grasping. This gives more control and helps you hit with two hands or keep balance while moving. This allows you to compete fully on the court, just like your teammates.
Cycling
With a mechanical sports prosthesis or adapted handlebar grip, you will hold the handlebars better and feel more confident while cycling. You maintain control, even on bends or bumps, and you ride independently and safely. This makes cycling a lot more fun and less exciting.
Swimming
We make a swimming arm prosthesis light, water-resistant and helps you stay nice and straight and stable in the water. You move more easily and symmetrically, especially in breast or backstroke. If you prefer to swim without arm or hand prosthesis, that's fine too, but with prosthesis you sometimes get just a bit more balance.
Climbing
For climbing, you can opt for a climbing prosthesis with a hook or adapted grip so that you have a firm grip on the climbing wall. You pull yourself up easier and move more fluidly between the grips. This will make you feel strong and secure at any height.
Football
Most young people who wear a myo-electric or bionic arm prosthesis switch prostheses when playing impact sports. A simple, passive arm prosthesis can help you keep your balance better while running or tackling. A sports prosthesis protects your body from impacts and gives extra stability. If you often play without a prosthesis, you will notice that you have more control with the right, bilateral support.
Basketball
With a light prosthesis or sometimes with a modified myo-electric or bionic prosthetic hand, you can catch, block or direct the ball better. You participate more actively and feel freer in your movements on the court. So you get more enjoyment out of the game and increase your sports performance.
At Amputee Care Center, we guide all young people with an amputation or congenital defect who would like to exercise and play sports, with or without a prosthesis. Did you know that we also counsel talents with truly top-level sports ambitions in our prosthesis centre? Even if you dream of participating in the Paralympics, we will support you every step of the way.
From our years of experience, we know that it is important to start early with the right guidance. A good example of this is Sam de Visser, Paralympic swimmer for Team Belgium.
We have coached Sam since birth and partly thanks to the good support of his parents, Sam has become not only a top Olympic athlete, but also a top human being! Of course, we did not know then that Sam's ambitions and talent would reach so far, but with a personal approach we made sure each prosthesis grew along with his body and his ambitions. The combination of a rock-solid mindset and the right materials can take you to enormous heights.
Does your child also want to excel in a sport? We would love to help them push the boundaries and make that dream come true. Does your child have his or her sights set on the Paralympic Games or does he or she just want to enjoy sports? Playing sport with an amputation or congenital defect starts at Amputee Care Center.
Getting to the pool in a safe and comfortable way may be a small thing, but it makes a big difference to me every day!Sam de Visser
Innovation in the prosthetic world is hugely important for achieving the best performance while playing sports. Many technologies that first proved their worth in elite sports (e.g. during the Paralympics) are later available to everyone. At Amputee Care Center, we also have some very good examples of this, such as:
Do you doubt whether your child's current prosthesis is getting the most out of him or her? Or is the prosthesis not always comfortable during sports? You can come to Amputee Care Center for a free, no-obligation second opinion. Our prosthetists take the time to understand your child's goals and give honest advice on alternatives or improvements. We are then happy to help you implement these improvements or make a more suitable prosthesis, but the second opinion is always residential and therefore without obligation.
Children's sports prostheses are designed for specific sports and thus not intended to be worn daily to school or in everyday life. They are an addition to a regular children's prosthesis. A sports prosthesis is always carefully fitted by our specialised prosthetists. Because every child is different, we make sure the sports prosthesis fits their body and goals just right.
The cost of a sports prosthesis varies according to type and application. Unfortunately, they are not always (fully) reimbursed through your Belgian mutual health insurance, Dutch health insurance or other insurer. At Amputee Care Center, we guide your child and you as parents step by step in investigating possible reimbursements.
If possible, we take the application process off your hands and inform you in detail. This way, we ensure that you can focus on what really counts: playing sports with pleasure and self-confidence!
Want to know more about the cost price and reimbursement options? Then read our article on the cost of a sports prosthesis.
At Amputee Care Center, we strongly believe that every teenager, junior or child has the right to an active and sporty childhood, with or without amputation. We therefore listen to your and your child's story and help you find a suitable solution. We guide you step by step. Did you know that many prosthetic components can be tried on before you make a decision?
We are happy to invite you for a free, no-obligation introductory consultation in our prosthetic centre.
Contact us by completing the Contact Form or by calling +32 (0)470 500 888.
We are at your service.
Want to know more about the possibilities of a sports prosthesis for your child? Be sure to contact us! We have listed some frequently asked questions in our prosthesis centre for you.
Sports prostheses can be fitted at an early age, sometimes from 3 to 4 years old, depending on the type of sport and the child's motor development. We make sure the prosthesis fits your child's growth stage and activity level.
No, this is not necessary. Even if your child is just starting to move or play sports, a sports prosthesis can help them have fun, become proficient in a particular type of sport and build confidence. At Amputee Care Center, we encourage exercise at every level: from recreational to competitive!
Good news! 3D printing technology is making sports more accessible to young athletes. As children grow, sports prostheses need to be adjusted or renewed regularly. This is usually done annually, but it depends on the growth rate and the degree of damage with active or intense use. We closely monitor every sports prosthesis at Amputee Care Center. Thanks to modern prosthetic technology and 3D printing, we can now print sleeves and special parts more cheaply, so that a sports prosthesis remains financially feasible for every child and his or her parents.
Yes, you can. For example, some youngsters have one blade for athletics and another prosthetic module for swimming or cycling. However, there are also interchangeable components for multifunctional use. Be sure to drop by our prosthetics centre for an introductory meeting, and together we will explore the possibilities and see what the best solution is. Also in terms of costs.
Sometimes yes, but unfortunately not always in full. Often, a sports prosthesis is additional to the daily prosthesis and falls outside the standard reimbursement. It is then not considered a medical necessity. Fortunately, other options often exist. We at Amputee Care Center are happy to help you see what is possible in order to get maximum reimbursement.
At Amputee Care Center, we can only admire such ambitions! We certainly also assist young people with top-level sports ambitions. Together, we work on the right prosthesis and support. We are highly motivated to achieve the best performance together!
Spronken is a NEN-EN-ISO 13485-certified supplier of orthopaedic equipment. Over the past 60 years, Spronken has grown into one of the largest companies in the fields of orthoses, prostheses, mobility and state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment in Europe.
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