Ottobock Prosthetic Legs - A 100 Year History
Author: Ottobock
Published: 2014/09/09 - Updated: 2026/01/04
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Prosthetics - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This information traces the technological advancement of artificial limbs manufactured by prosthetist Otto Bock and his company from 1919 to the present day. The material serves as a practical reference for understanding how prosthetic leg technology has progressed from rudimentary belt-fastened devices to sophisticated microprocessor-controlled systems incorporating aerospace materials and Bluetooth connectivity. The chronological presentation, spanning from post-World War I rehabilitation efforts through modern Paralympic competitions, offers valuable context for amputees, medical professionals, and veterans seeking to understand the functional improvements available in contemporary prosthetic care. The documentation demonstrates how innovations in materials science - particularly the adoption of carbon fiber - and computer-controlled hydraulic systems have addressed earlier problems such as chronic back pain, unnatural gait patterns, and fall risks that plagued users of traditional prostheses - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Ottobock has put together an archive of images of the past 100 years of prosthetic legs to show how technology available for war veterans has developed over the years. A prosthetic is defined as a device designed to replace a missing part of the body or to make a part of the body work better. Diseased or missing eyes, arms, hands, legs, or joints are commonly replaced by prosthetic devices.
Main Content
Prosthetist Otto Bock began making artificial limbs for war veterans in 1919, when the limb would be strapped on using a belt around the amputees neck. Now, the latest limbs contain Bluetooth technology to allow the user to switch modes, walk backwards and mimic the natural walk so closely you would not notice the wearer has an artificial limb.
Today, Ottobock is a world leading supplier of high quality, innovative and practical solutions that restore human mobility and help people to rediscover personal independence.
100 Years of Prosthetic Legs
Ottobock has been heavily involved with providing prostheses for serving personnel and veterans. Our technology has been widely used. In earlier days the C-Leg was heavily used to treat above the knee amputees, and since then with the technological advances in today's world the soldiers are using the very best technology on the market in the form of the Genium knee joint and Genium X3 knee joint. We mainly saw the latest prosthetic technology at Invictus Games - Genium and Genium X3 prosthetic knee joints being used. At the athletics field there were also running blades being used.
In the last decade Prosthetic technology has come on in leaps and bounds. With the introduction of technology that is used in the aircraft industry, the level of complexity of products has advanced significantly. All this improvement in technology is all focused around the user being able to conduct a normal life and hopes to restore their function back to what it was pre-amputation.
In earlier years materials in prosthetic components was limited to metals, plastics and wood. In today's World carbon fiber plays a big role in the prosthetic foot segment. This material is used because of its strength and durability but still has the unique ability to store energy to help the patient during walking. The quest nowadays is to make components as strong and lightweight as possible, but with all the forces going through a prosthesis during activity - this is no easy project!
Patients using some of the earlier day prostheses may have encountered back ache, and due to very basic controls their walking pattern would not have matched their sound side. They may have found walking with an old fashioned style of prosthesis very tiring and may have been subject to lots of falls because of the very basic knee joint designs.
Nowadays, users can benefit massively from new technology. Prosthetic components are designed to mimic the missing anatomy as close as possible. Their Prosthetists can program the knee joints using a laptop and really fine tune its performance to suit the users' needs. Patients are able to have the leg set up to allow them to carry out special activities whereby a different way of moving is required - for example cycling, running or playing golf. Users really benefit from the high levels of safety that comes from a prosthetic component that is controlled by a microprocessor. With this, data is analyzed from the prosthesis during walking and then the necessary changes in function are made to suit the demands placed by the user.
Prosthetic design in the future is still improving significantly. I think we can expect far more intelligence, even lighter weight materials giving the user even more options to lead a normal daily life.
Ottobock
Ottobock is part of the Ottobock global group of companies established in the UK in 1976. Its wide product range includes high quality prosthetic and orthotic components, wheelchairs, rehabilitation and mobility products available through the country's leading clinics and dealers. With a highly motivated and skilled team of professionals offering expert advice, product sales, service and support, Ottobock solutions enhance the physical comfort, confidence and mobility of the individual. Ottobock aims to achieve the best possible outcome for its customers, combining the latest technology with cutting-edge products and services.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The century-long arc documented here reveals more than engineering progress - it shows how prosthetic design philosophy has fundamentally shifted from simple limb replacement to genuine functional restoration. Where early devices merely provided structural support at considerable physical cost to the wearer, today's microprocessor-controlled joints with customizable programming reflect a sophisticated understanding that effective prosthetic care must adapt to individual lifestyles rather than forcing users to adapt to their devices. The integration of aerospace-grade materials and intelligent sensors represents not just technological achievement but a recognition that people with limb loss deserve access to the same range of activities and natural movement patterns as anyone else. As these systems continue to advance, the gap between biological and artificial limb function narrows measurably, suggesting that future developments may eventually render the distinction nearly imperceptible during everyday activities - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Ottobock and published on 2014/09/09, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.