The Running Blade: A Prosthetic for Runners

Overview

The running blade is a prosthetic foot that is designed for and used by running amputees. The blade, which looks very different from a typical, day-to-day prosthetic foot, allows amputees to safely run, restoring this ability in their lives. Invented in 1970s by Van Phillips, and engineer and amputee himself, the blade modeled animal limb behavior to mimic the running motion and impact to the rest of the body. This website dives into the purpose of this device, its interaction with human biology, the design considerations used to create this, and its impact in our current society. Click on the following buttons to learn more about each topic.