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Event will see amputees using prosthetic limbs to perform daily tasks that we take for granted


Even as the Rio Olympics fever runs its course, athletes around the world are preparing for a competition of a different kind — Cybathlon 2016 — which will see amputees using prosthetic limbs to perform daily tasks that we take for granted, such as pouring themselves coffee or easing into a chair. An Indian team too, trained and supported by Riselegs, a Bengaluru-based organisation that specialises in devising prosthetic legs and mobility devices made of cane, will participate.
Happening for the first time, Cybathlon, set to begin in Zurich on October 8 this year, will host 74 athletes from 25 countries. They will participate in competitions that cut across six disciplines: brain computer interface, powered arm, powered leg races, powered exoskeleton and wheelchair race. Unlike the Paralympics, the Cybathlon looks for excellence and innovation in the way of interfacing the human and the robotic components. Not surprising then that it has been called the Cyborg Olympics.
Riselegs is training two athletes, Prajwal and Nagesh, selected from applications from amputees across the country, to take part in the powered leg discipline.
Each requires a different type of training, with Prajwal being a bodybuilder and Nagesh an IT professional. This is being taken care of by Rohan George Mathews, who is a volunteer member with Riselegs. The training includes carefully monitoring the athletes’ nutrition, diet and includes psychological counselling.
Arun Cherian, the founder of Riselegs, is a mechanical engineer-turned-inventor. Having specialised in exoskeletal suits, which are powered suits worn by amputees, having components that perform the role of muscles and help flux the artificial limbs, Mr. Cherian was struck by the pliability, strength and springy nature of cane. He has proceeded to innovatively use it to develop prosthetic legs and powered wheelchairs.
The Riselegs prosthetics are certainly competitive when it comes to cost, for when most of the other teams participating in the Cybathlon are using kits that cost about Rs. 40 lakh, theirs run into a few thousands of rupees.“There are two kinds of prosthetic legs. One that supports high [for example, sport] activity and the other for everyday use,” he says, stressing on the versatility of cane.
Mr. Cherian has invented mobility devices using cane, including custom prosthetic legs and sports wheelchairs. Currently the devices are being tested in clinical trials by St. John’s hospital, Bengaluru, and Christian Medical College, Vellore, which are expected to end in about a month.