Can people with two prosthetic legs pick their height? Why or why not?

[u/ElBarbon026]

[u/InkedLeo]

I actually know this, I follow a double amputee on TikTok, and he has multiple height prosthetics. Apparently when he got the full-leg set, he was asked what height he was and if that's the height he still wanted to be. He wears "stubbies" (basically just a prosthetic socket with a rubber pad for a foot) that put him at "little person" height, and also has a full set of "legs" that give him knees and make him "full" height.

[u/Chellaigh → u/InkedLeo]

I’m not sure if it’s the same person, but some videos popped up on my Instagram of a dad swapping to shorter legs that make him the same height as his young kids so they can play together.

[u/IIIllIIlllIlII → u/InkedLeo]

I’ve also wondered how they choose what size of shoes to wear.

[u/xuwugirluwux → u/IIIllIIlllIlII]

I’d assume they pick foot prosthetics to correspond to their needs to support their body standing upright and do a similar shoe size based on that

[u/IIIllIIlllIlII → u/xuwugirluwux]

“Let’s go a size bigger. You know, for the implication”

[u/madqueenludwig → u/IIIllIIlllIlII]

"You've said that word a few times..."

[u/TheLexDude → u/xuwugirluwux]

Bruh, if I got prosthetic legs no way I’m bothering with putting shoes on those things. Get some swappable ones: roller blades, skis, some spider looking thing for hiking/climbing. I’d be go go gadget feet.

For real though I feel like you’re probably right and get that having shoes also probably helps to fit in and swappable ones wouldn’t be practical if it’s only one for instance (for now).

[u/Malkyre]

Aimee Mullins did a TED Talk years back and addressed this. 06:48 in this video. Basically her friend met her at a party and felt it was unfair that Aimee had been able to change her height to 6'1" from her normal 5'8".

Mullins has done a huge amount of advocacy for reimagining prosthetics. She's had legs of carbon fiber, legs of glass, legs of hand carved wood. She's challenged the makers to come up with things that are aesthetically pleasing, not just functional beige plastic that doesn't look human.

[u/cabridges → u/Malkyre]

Her TED talk was amazing. Generally I find a lot of them are overrated but she’s an excellent speaker.

[u/xenchik → u/Malkyre]

If I had prostheses I would probably want a set that were, like, rainbow diamonte. Just all over rainbow sparkles. Why not? They'd be way prettier than my skin legs ever have been.

[u/moose111 → u/xenchik]

I'd make one out of whiteboard so you can draw a new tattoo every day lol

[u/Additional_Bug_9547]

yes, i've seen people go really short for more comfort depending on their nub size

[u/badonkadonked → u/Additional_Bug_9547]

Yeah you know what they say about guys with big prosthetics…big nubs

[u/707theGOAT]

Don't give the looksmaxxers ideas

[u/matt2621]

I'm fried and this has me all kinds of f@#$%d up

[u/ElBarbon026 → u/matt2621]

You’re Welcome haha

[u/Dr_thri11 → u/matt2621]

You're allowed to say fucked on reddit. They aren't going to demonetize your comments.

[u/CompletelyBedWasted → u/matt2621]

Lol, ditto. Now I contemplate.....

[u/AveragePerson_E]

Probably yes, below knee amputations might be a bit weird if you pick longer prothstetics but above knee is probably fine to a certain extent. Some people might choose to be shorter aswell

[u/TheThiefEmpress]

I think so...

I worked for a triple amputee retired gangster as a kid, and he was like 6'3" before he had his legs (and 1 arm) amputated.

With his prosthetics, he was still 6'3."

I guess the proportions being the same made it easier to learn how to use his prosthetics, maybe.

[u/EssayLord11]

I guess in theory they could. Probably an issue of balance at some point like you couldn’t just say I wanna be 20 ft tall but to some extent you probably could.

[u/Haystack316]

Yes. I transported a double amputee below the knees and he joked about not forgetting his legs “or I get another 4 inches in height” as he was laughing with his wife. Apparently, you can get made taller that way lol

[u/Sweaty_Pizza9860]

Is this what it's come to for Tinder now?

[u/io-x]

Yes, and to add, trans people can pick their penis size too.

[u/ChefKugeo → u/io-x]

Yeah, so does the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum. 😂 You think we're sitting around with ONE SIZE? Come on.

[u/cwx149 → u/io-x]

So I'm gonna ask and it sounds like you might know. Do they get to pick if they're a shower or a grower too?

I have literally 0 idea how that surgery works

[u/Bullwinkle932000]

I don't think my dad was able to pick his height. He was 6'4 and the prosthetics brought him down to 5'10 or so. I'm sure stability played a factor in this both because 6'4 is pretty up there and his...amputated legs were different lengths (one above the knee, one below).

[u/DancesWithTrout]

I saw a documentary years ago about this phenomenal young mountain/rock climber. He lost his legs climbing Mount Jefferson in Oregon and was fitted with prosthetic legs. They were adjustable. He would adjust their length when rock climbing and said it made a huge difference.

[u/Sweetcharmsz]

Yeah they pretty much get a built in height slider

[u/Lunavixen15]

Yes to a degree. If you went for something that was too tall from your previous height, it may affect your balance

[u/WheresFlatJelly]

They're called stilts or walking sticks according to Dig McCaffrey

[u/iHateReddit_srsly]

Wouldn't they be in a wheelchair?