I had seen other legs that were worn 'skeletal' (not cosmetically covered), but the 'Ultimate' looked more futuristic and understated.

Although the 'Ultimate' is comparable in weight to other knees, the weight is not transferred to the amputee; it immediately feels much lighter and easier to use. The 'Terminal Impact Dampening' also tells me where the 'Ultimate' is in space because it gives me a feeling through my stump.

The 'Ultimate' is a Weight Activated Hydraulic Knee Unit. What that means to me, is when I don't put my body weight through the 'Ultimate', it will swing completely free. When I put my body weight through it, the hydraulics switch on, helping me cope with my day-to-day activities.

Also, because the 'Ultimate' is only working when I want it to, it saves me energy. This enables me to walk longer distances and manoeuvre in tight spaces without being so tired.

The 'Ultimate' is especially good for walking safely down stairs and slopes. I have walked down stairs and slopes since I became an amputee. With my old leg, however, stairs and slopes were a 'bit of an adventure' because the knee unit had to be slightly bent to initiate the yield required to lower me down to the next stair or to lower me down the slope.

With the 'Ultimate', there is a 'positive' safe starting and finishing point, which means there is no guesswork involved. This provides me with the confidence I need to cope with any set of stairs or any slope I may come across and, in fact, I have managed to walk down extremely steep grassy slopes...safely!

I have found the 'Ultimate' to be a great all-round knee. I can jump onto my mountain bike and cycle away without having to 'flick' any switches. I also feel very safe when I dismount because, as I put my foot down, the hydraulics switch on and give me the confidence that the 'Ultimate' won't 'shoot forwards' and cause me to fall over.

In combination with my active foot, I am also able to jog with my 'Ultimate' without changing any settings.

When I play golf, the 'weight activated lock' is also a bonus. I can switch the 'Ultimate' to lock and, on application of my body weight when I take up my stance, the knee will lock. I can then concentrate on playing my golf shot without the knee shooting forwards. Obviously, once I have finished playing my shot, I can walk away from the tee quite normally.

The 'Ultimate Knee' is quite simply the best knee I have used! It does everything I require from a prosthetic device to maximise my lifestyle and gives me the confidence to try new activities.

With an 'Ultimate Knee' there is no such word as can't!

Author: Nigel Davis, Amputee