# Prosthetic Ice Axes Phil Myers' Axe-Hands are Made Specially for Handicapped Mountaineers By manzil | Published 2011-04-13 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ice-axe-hands References: [cumberlandnews](http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/news/top-award-for-cumbrian-man-who-made-climber-ice-axe-hands-1.826187) Mountaineer Stephen Ball lost his left hand and leg in a horrific accident in 1999 when he fell two-thousand feet down and trapped in a snow storm for several hours. Despite the incident, Stephen Ball determined to climb again. He sought help from an award-winning prosthetic technician Phil Myers to design a special device that would allow to climb again. Phil Myers came with an innovative design of [axe hands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/provoke-x) for which he was recently awarded by the [British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/what-the-spf). The custom built hands consist built-in ice axes and adjustable mechanism to adjust the position of the axes that make it a reliable ice climbing device. A perfect example of courage, determination and innovation that will keep inspiring others. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 14% | Activity: 32% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Prosthetic Ice Axes:** The development of axe hands as prosthetics for amputee mountaineers opens up new possibilities for adaptive sports and outdoor recreation. - **Custom-built Prosthetics:** The innovative design of the axe hands demonstrates the potential for customized prosthetic devices tailored to specific activities and needs. - **Convergence of Technology and Accessibility:** The integration of ice axes into prosthetic hands showcases the growing trend of leveraging technology to enhance accessibility and enable individuals with disabilities to participate in adventurous activities. ### Who This Affects Most - **Prosthetics:** The development of axe hands as prosthetics presents an opportunity for the prosthetics industry to focus on designing specialized devices for different sports and activities. - **Sports and Outdoor Recreation:** The innovation of prosthetic ice axes opens up new possibilities for amputee mountaineers to engage in outdoor sporting activities and adventure tourism. - **Assistive Technology:** The integration of ice axes into prosthetic hands highlights the potential for the assistive technology industry to create innovative solutions that enhance mobility and independence for individuals with disabilities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Prosthetic Arms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-prosthetic-arm.md) - [Collaboration Campsite Axes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prometheus-design-werx-spd-x-hardcore-hammers-axes.md) - [Smart Bionic Hands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-bionic-hand.md) - [Celebrated Athletic Prosthetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ffate.md) - [Mind-Controlled Artificial Arms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-prosthetic-arm.md) - [Affordable 3D-Printed Prosthetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lunet.md) - [Hybridized Camping Hatchets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/camping-hatchet.md) - [Robotic Hand Assistance Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bioservo-carbonhand.md) - [Mountaineering-Assisting Exoskeleton Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exoskeleton-design.md)