# Prosthetic-Inspired Crutches The Flex Leg Unburdens the Upper Body for Natural Movements By Meghan Young | Published 2012-05-01 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flex-leg References: [designbuzz](http://www.designbuzz.com/flex-leg-helps-walk-around-injured-leg.html) & [flexleg](http://www.flexleg.com/) Inspired by prosthetic legs used by handicapped athletes, the Flex Leg is a special crutch that helps people get back on their feet in a more natural way after injuring their leg. Instead of relying on crutches that inconveniently occupy the arms as it relieves weight from the wounded limb, the Flex Leg wraps around the limb and props it up on a shelf so that it cannot touch the floor. Conceived by Mike Sanders, a masters student of mechanical engineering at Brigham Young University, and created in collaboration with engineering colleague Mark Roberts, the Flex Leg provides better mobility so that the injured can perform common daily activities unencumbered. It also allows for more movement. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 41% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Prosthetic-inspired Mobility Devices:** Exploring the use of prosthetic technology to create innovative mobility devices that provide better movement and functionality for injured individuals. - **Hands-free Crutch Alternatives:** Developing crutch alternatives that free up the upper body, allowing users to perform daily activities more easily while recovering from leg injuries. - **Improved Injury Recovery Solutions:** Advancing the development of innovative solutions that aid in the recovery process for individuals with leg injuries, enabling them to regain mobility faster and more comfortably. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Healthcare and Rehabilitation:** Applying prosthetic-inspired designs in the healthcare and rehabilitation industry to enhance the recovery process and improve mobility for injured patients. - **Assistive Technology:** Integrating prosthetic technology into assistive devices, such as crutches, to create more efficient and user-friendly solutions for individuals with limited mobility. - **Sports and Athletics:** Adapting prosthetic-inspired concepts from handicap athlete prosthetics to design sports and athletics equipment that enhances performance while reducing strain on the body. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Modular Slip-Proof Prosthetic Legs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lytra-prosthetic-leg.md) - [Bionic Knee Prostheses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/httpswwwmediamitedu.md) - [Celebrated Athletic Prosthetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ffate.md) - [AI-Powered Walking Aids](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/legit-walking.md) - [Adjustable Fracture Braces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bracesys-kevlar.md) - [Connected Kids Recovery Braces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cknee-brace.md) - [Stretchy Rubber Rehabilitation Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/futto.md) - [Adaptive Swim Prosthetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-nimble.md) - [AI-Powered Prosthetic Arms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-prosthetic-arm.md)