Lower Limb Prosthetics

Designed, built, and fit on-site, from below-knee to hip level, and shaped around your goals.

Losing part of a leg raises a lot of questions at once. Will I walk again? Will it be comfortable? How long will it take? A prosthetic leg is the answer for most people, and the right one can help you move, work, and live on your own terms.

No two people need the same thing. Your goals, your activity level, and your residual limb are unique, so your prosthetic leg should be built for you and not pulled off a shelf. Our practitioners work closely with you to design a leg prosthesis that fits your body and your life.

We build your device right in our on-site lab. That means faster fittings, easier adjustments, and one team that stays with you from your first cast through every tune-up down the road.

Call 651-772-2665 to schedule a free consultation.

Types of Prosthetic Legs

Most of what shapes your prosthetic leg comes down to one thing: how much of the leg is affected, and whether your natural knee is still in the picture. If you maintain your knee joint, below-the-knee prosthetics will be best for you. If your amputation is above your knee joint, you will be fit with an above-the-knee prosthetic. Whether you need one prosthetic leg or two, and whatever your level of lower extremity limb loss, here is what each group means for you.

Below-the-Knee Prosthetic Legs

If your amputation is at or below the knee, you maintain your own knee joint. That is a real advantage. Your natural knee does a lot of the work, so these prosthetic legs are usually easier to adapt to and learn and let most people return to walking sooner. This group ranges from partial foot devices up to a full below-knee, or lower leg prosthetic.

Partial foot prosthetics

When limb loss affects only part of the foot, a partial foot prosthesis restores balance and lets you push off naturally again. Options range from a cosmetic restoration that simply looks and feels like your foot, to a carbon fiber design that gives energy back with every step to put some spring back in your stride.

Symes prosthetics

A Symes prosthesis is used when the amputation is at the ankle. It puts your remaining heel pad to work, which gives a stable, secure base to stand and walk on. We often add a BOA dial system so you can fine-tune the fit on the fly, the same easy twist you find on a good pair of boots.

Transtibial prosthetics (below-the-knee prosthetic leg)

A transtibial prosthesis is the classic below-knee, or lower leg, prosthetic. It restores everything from below-the-knee to the floor. The custom socket is where it all starts, cradling your residual limb and spreading your weight evenly so you can move comfortably. From there we match the right prosthetic foot to how you want to live, whether that is walking the dog, getting out on the lake or back on the trail.

Above-the-Knee Prosthetic Legs

When limb loss reaches the knee or higher, the prosthetic leg has to do more, because it now replaces the knee joint too. That takes more design and a bit more practice, but people reach remarkable places with the right device and the right team. These prosthetics include a prosthetic knee joint, and for the right candidate that can be a microprocessor knee, sometimes called a bionic or computerized leg, that reads your movement and adjusts in real time. At Tillges, we fit leading components, including the Ottobock C-Leg. Learn more about microprocessor knee technology.

Knee disarticulation prosthetics

A knee disarticulation prosthesis is built when the amputation is done directly through the knee joint, leaving the residual limb intact. Because the thigh bone stays whole, it can carry your full weight comfortably, which allows a slimmer socket and solid, stable footing through the day.

Transfemoral prosthetics (above-the-knee prosthetic leg)

A transfemoral prosthesis is the above-knee prosthetic leg. It replaces everything from the thigh down, including the knee and foot. The socket is the heart of the device, and getting it comfortable and secure is what makes the difference between a leg you tolerate and one you trust. We shape each one to the person, so it feels like part of you and moves the way you need it to.

Hip disarticulation prosthetics

A hip disarticulation prosthesis is used after limb loss at the hip. The goal is a leg that is safe and steady to put on and take off, and streamlined enough for smooth, confident walking. We build the socket for maximum comfort and keep the finished leg as clean and low-profile as possible.

Parts of a Prosthetic Leg

A prosthetic leg is a handful of parts working together. You do not need to memorize them, but knowing the basics makes your fitting a lot less mysterious. Here is what goes into most prosthetic legs.

• Socket: the custom-molded cup that connects to your residual limb. It carries your weight and is the single most important part for comfort.
• Liner, socks, and sleeves: the everyday accessories worn with your prosthetic leg. The soft liner protects your skin, and socks and sleeves fine-tune the fit as your limb changes through the day.
• Suspension: what holds the leg securely in place, from suction to a pin lock to an adjustable dial.
• Pylon or frame: the internal support that connects the socket to the foot or knee and carries the load.
• Prosthetic knee: for above-the-knee prosthetics, the joint that controls stability and motion, from mechanical to microprocessor knees.
• Prosthetic foot: from steady, supportive designs to dynamic carbon fiber feet that give energy back for an active life.
• Materials: most prosthetic legs are built from lightweight, durable materials like carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum, chosen to balance strength, weight, and comfort.

The Look of Your Prosthetic Leg

Some people want their prosthetic leg to blend in. We can add a cosmetic cover or a silicone restoration shaped and colored to look natural. Others would rather leave the hardware in view and let the leg look like what it is. Both are good choices, and it is entirely yours to make.

Prosthetic Legs Built for Life in the Twin Cities

A prosthetic leg has to fit the place you live, not just your body. Between the lakes, the winters, and an active outdoors, life here asks a lot of a leg, and we build with that in mind.

• On the water: with a lake around nearly every corner, we build custom water legs made to get wet, for the dock, the pool, the boat, and the lake. One of our patients, Craig, was up and walking on his water leg the first day and went on to test it everywhere from a hot tub to the ocean.
• Through winter: ice and snow test your balance more than anything else. We help you think through traction and stability for the cold months, and we are here to adjust as the seasons change.
• Outdoors and active: hunting season, the fishing opener, and the trails do not wait. We build legs for the active life our patients actually lead. For running and sports, see our sports and running prosthetics page.

Why Team Tillges

Choosing where to get your prosthetic leg matters as much as the leg itself. Here is what sets us apart.

• Partners for life: a prosthetic leg is not a one-time purchase. Your body changes and your goals change, and your device has to keep up. We stay with you for every fitting and adjustment, and for the new goals that come later. That is what partners for life means to us.
• Family-owned since 1992: we have been family-owned and operated for more than 30 years, and we are not a franchise or a corporate chain. The people making decisions about your care are the people you meet in the clinic.
• We build it here, we adjust it here: your evaluation, fabrication, and fitting all happen in our on-site lab, which includes 3D printing and central fabrication. When something needs adjusting, we can often do it in hours instead of shipping your socket to an out-of-state lab and waiting weeks.
• One coordinated team: your practitioner and your technician stay in constant communication with each other, with you, and with your physician and therapists, so nothing gets lost between visits.
• Close to home: we have clinics across the Twin Cities metro and into western Wisconsin, so trusted care is never far away.

Ready to talk about your prosthetic leg? At Tillges, we handle everything in-house, from casting and fabrication to fitting, gait training, and adjustments down the road. Call 651-772-2665 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Prosthetic Leg FAQs

Our practitioners work closely with you and your care team to design a prosthetic leg for your needs and your goals, and we build it on-site in Tillges fabrication lab alongside our own technicians.

Call us today at 651-772-2665 to schedule your complimentary consultation.