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Wonderful Orthopaedic, Trauma & Prosthetics

Wonderful 1FES

Product Code: OTAP-PLAC-3136

A keel that bends under load and gives it back at push-off.

A rigid foot absorbs what a step puts into it. A spring keel stores part of that load as it deflects and returns it as the foot straightens, so some of the energy a user puts in comes back. Listed on Medigear.uk for UK business buyers.

Sections

Prosthetic Feet & Knees

Categories

Orthopaedic, Trauma & Prosthetics

Condition

New

Origin

China

Seller Type

Certified Professional Seller

CE & ISO Certified

Global Shipping

Supplier: Medigear

Walking is not a steady activity. At each step the body drops onto the limb, weight rolls forward over the foot, and at the end of stance the ankle pushes off to start the next swing. In an intact limb the calf muscles and the Achilles tendon supply that push-off, and the tendon itself stores and returns elastic energy as it stretches and recoils.

A prosthetic foot has no muscle. What it can do is store part of the energy the user puts into it and give some back at the right moment, and that is what a spring keel does. A resilient plate runs through the foot, and as body weight rolls forward the keel deflects, storing strain energy in the material. Towards the end of stance, as load moves onto the forefoot and then begins to unload, the keel straightens and releases part of that energy into push-off.

The return is partial rather than complete. Energy is lost to friction, to hysteresis in the material and to strain losses, and published engineering work on energy storing feet places realistic recovery in the region of thirty percent. That is still a meaningful contribution to a step, and it is the reason these feet are specified for users who walk further, faster or over more varied ground.

Keel material is what determines how well that works, which is why the contradiction in this product's published description matters. Carbon fibre composites are used in energy storing feet precisely because they combine high stiffness with very low hysteresis, so a high proportion of the energy stored is returned rather than lost as heat. A polyurethane keel behaves differently: softer, more damping, and returning less. Specifying this foot for an active user without establishing which is present is specifying an unknown.

Stiffness is the second variable. Energy storing feet are normally supplied in several categories matched to the user's weight and activity level, because a keel that is too stiff for its user barely deflects and returns nothing, while one too compliant deflects too far and feels unstable in late stance. That selection is a clinical judgement made against the manufacturer's stiffness chart, and the categories available should be established.

The foot is supplied with an adapter, described as stainless steel, which connects it to the pylon or knee above. As on other feet in this range the adapter governs the weight rating of the connection, so its specification belongs with the foot's own.

This is a component supplied for fitting within a prosthesis by a qualified prosthetist, who selects the foot, the stiffness category and the adapter, and sets alignment. The manufacturer, keel material, stiffness categories, sizing, per-size weight limit and adapter specification are provided by the seller at quotation, with UKCA or CE marking documentation, the declaration of conformity, instructions for use and warranty terms issued by the manufacturer or held by the seller.

Active users walking longer distances are the group energy storing feet are specified for, where partial return accumulates across a day.

Faster walking speeds place more energy into the keel at each step, which is where the return is most noticeable.

Varied ground and outdoor walking benefit from a keel that deflects to the surface rather than meeting it rigidly.

Users progressing beyond limited community ambulation may move to this category as activity increases.

Stiffness selection matched to weight and activity is what determines whether the foot performs as intended.

Wet and slippery surfaces are addressed by the non-slip sole on the N variant, where that finish is supplied.

Clinics fitting across activity levels need the stiffness categories established, since one foot does not suit every user.

Energy Returned Rather Than Absorbed

The keel stores strain energy as weight rolls forward and releases part of it into push-off.

A Contribution Where There Is No Muscle

A prosthetic foot cannot generate power, but a spring keel can give back part of what the user puts in.

Most Noticeable at Higher Activity

Faster and longer walking puts more energy into the keel, which is where the return is most apparent.

Deflection to the Ground

A keel that flexes meets varied surfaces more forgivingly than a rigid structure.

Stiffness Matched to the User

Categories selected against weight and activity ensure the keel deflects usefully rather than too little or too far.

An Adapter Supplied With the Foot

The connection comes as part of the assembly, with its rating confirmed alongside the foot.

A Sole Finish to Suit the Setting

The N variant carries a textured sole for wet and slippery surfaces, while the standard reference does not.

Keel Construction Established

What the keel is made of is settled before the foot is specified, because the whole argument rests on it.

Per-Size Load Limit Established

A maximum patient weight for the size supplied is obtained rather than a published band.

Sole Finish Specified at Order

The two references differ in sole finish, so the variant required is stated rather than assumed.

Supply and Documentation Arranged

Medigear.uk can arrange supply, documentation and the provision of consumables.

Energy Storing Prosthetic Foot

A foot with a resilient spring keel that deflects under load and returns energy at push-off.

Item References: 1FES and 1FES-N

The same foot in two sole finishes, with N denoting the non-slip variant.

Manufacturer

Wonderful Rehabilitation, to be confirmed at quotation.

Keel Material

Published as carbon fibre in the product name and as PU in the material field, to be confirmed.

Foot Shell Material

Confirmed at quotation.

Adapter Supplied

Described as stainless steel, with its rating confirmed at quotation.

Sole Finish

Standard on 1FES and non-slip textured on 1FES-N, specified at order.

Stiffness Categories

Confirmed at quotation, matched to user weight and activity.

Size Range

Confirmed at quotation.

Product Weight

Confirmed at quotation.

Maximum Patient Weight

Confirmed at quotation per size.

Activity Level Indicated

Confirmed at quotation.

Heel Height

Confirmed at quotation, determining suitable footwear.

Left and Right Handing

Confirmed at quotation.

Foot Shell and Cosmesis Compatibility

Confirmed at quotation.

UKCA or CE Marking and Declaration of Conformity

Issued by the manufacturer and requested from the seller at quotation.

Instructions for Use

Provided by the seller at quotation, and required before fitting.

Warranty Terms

Set by the seller at quotation.

The 1FES is an energy storing prosthetic foot built around a spring keel. Walking is not a steady activity: the body drops onto the limb, weight rolls forward, and at the end of stance the ankle pushes off, work that in an intact limb comes from the calf muscles and from elastic energy stored and returned by the Achilles tendon. A prosthetic foot has no muscle, but a resilient keel can store part of the energy a user puts in and release it at the right moment, deflecting as weight rolls forward and straightening towards the end of stance. The return is partial, with losses to friction, hysteresis and strain, and published engineering work places realistic recovery in the region of thirty percent, which is still a meaningful contribution across a day of walking. Two things determine whether that works for a given user: what the keel is made of, since material governs how much of the stored energy comes back rather than turning to heat, and the stiffness category, since a keel mismatched to weight and activity either barely deflects or feels unstable. Both should be established before specifying. Selection, stiffness and alignment are the work of the prescribing prosthetist. Keel construction, stiffness categories, sizing, per-size load limit and adapter specification are provided by the seller at quotation alongside UKCA or CE documentation. Medigear.uk lists the foot for UK business buyers and can arrange supply, documentation and the provision of consumables. Enquire for a written quotation.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything buyers need to know about sourcing medical equipment through MediGear.

It is an energy storing prosthetic foot with a spring keel, supplied with an adapter, for a prosthetist to fit within a lower limb prosthesis.

A resilient keel deflects as body weight rolls forward over the foot, storing strain energy, then straightens towards the end of stance and releases part of it into push-off.

No. Losses to friction, hysteresis and strain mean the return is partial, with published engineering work placing realistic recovery in the region of thirty percent.

Because the proportion returned depends on it. Carbon fibre composites combine stiffness with low hysteresis, while a polyurethane keel is softer, more damping and returns less.

The product name says carbon fibre and the material field says PU. The construction should be established before specifying the foot for an active user.

Energy storing feet are supplied in several stiffnesses matched to user weight and activity, since a keel too stiff barely deflects and one too compliant feels unstable.

Against the manufacturer's stiffness chart, as a clinical judgement by the prosthetist using the user's weight and activity level.

Those who walk further, faster or over more varied ground, where a partial energy return makes a meaningful contribution across a day.

Described as a stainless steel adapter. As elsewhere in this range the adapter governs the rating of the connection, so its specification is confirmed alongside the foot.

The non-slip sole finish. The photographs show a textured sole on the N variant and a plain one on the standard reference, so the two differ in sole rather than in keel or construction.

A qualified prosthetist, who chooses the foot, stiffness category and adapter and sets alignment.