Russian Para Snowboarder Transforms Sports Prosthetics
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Philip Shebbo, a para snowboarding champion from Russia, experienced a life-changing event about 13 years ago when he lost his leg due to a car accident. Rather than giving up the sport he loves, he designed a custom prosthetic limb for snowboarding. Now, several athletes interested in the product.
A rust-free prosthesis
Shebbo’s prosthesis incorporates aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, and high-strength titanium alloy. As journalist Anatoly Kharitonov shared, the prosthesis features a specialized coating that is not paint but a thin layer of anodized oxide. This anodizing process entails submerging the metal in a specific electrolyte solution, allowing an electric current to form a durable oxide layer on its surface.
In an interview, Philip Shebbo said that this anodized treatment eliminates concerns about rust, as the protective film safeguards the metal structure. This layer not only helps protect against rust but also reduces the risk of cracking and peeling, ensuring the longevity and reliability of the prosthesis.
Elastic adjustment
The snowboarding prosthesis has another innovative feature—customizable elastic adjustment. Adaptive athletes can use the red handle located at the back of the prosthetic foot to control the speed of its stretch, allowing them to choose how quickly or slowly their legs stretch and adjust.
Shebbo emphasizes the importance of this function, noting that if the prosthesis stretches too fast, it could lead to an unwanted force that may throw the athlete off balance in certain sports. Conversely, there are instances where a quick release is necessary. These features accommodate the preferences of each athlete.
Manufacturing
A dedicated team is now focused on producing the prosthetic devices. Vladimir Timashkov, a prosthetic manufacturing engineer based in Russia, is in charge of developing the prosthetic foot. His role includes designing 3D models, performing load calculations, and conducting sample tests.
Timashkov explains that various components can be produced with differing thicknesses. To enhance flexibility in certain areas, fewer layers of material are used, resulting in a more elastic design. Conversely, the team increases the thickness for sections requiring greater load-bearing capacity to improve strength and durability.
To thoroughly assess the prosthesis, Shebbo and prosthetic manufacturers are conducting tests through wakeboarding. This extreme water sport places significant stress on joints and the device itself, unlike snowboarding, which is gentler. According to Shebbo, this makes wakeboarding an ideal sport for evaluating the durability and performance of the prosthetic components.
Several others have expressed interest in Shebbo’s design. Recently, a Brazilian athlete tested a prototype and reported positive feedback on its performance.
Shebbo’s prosthesis design is tailored to meet the unique demands of adaptive athletes, ensuring both performance and safety. As interest from various countries increases, this prosthesis design could pave the way for greater accessibility and inspire a new generation of adaptive athletes to pursue their passions.
