During March and April, people across the United States visited the Plastics Make it Possible^SM website and Facebook page to make donations to ADN and help inspire athletes with disabilities to become future Paralympians. Plastics Make it Possible^SM then matched dollar-for-dollar the $23,291 that was raised through corporate and private donations, for a total gift of $46,582 to ADN.

“We are thrilled to have raised money for an organization like Athletes with Disabilities Network to help inspire a whole new generation of athletes,” said Steve Russell, vice president, Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. “From carbon fiber technology used for shock absorption to custom-fitted sockets made from resilient polyethylene and polypropylene, plastics are a vital part of the innovative, active prostheses that are used by many disabled athletes in the sports they typically enjoy. This is a wonderful demonstration of how plastics are being used in innovative ways to help make people’s lives better.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 1.7 million amputees in the United States, many of whom rely on active and sports-grade prostheses to keep fit and stay healthy. These prostheses have been revolutionized by plastic materials that help make them stronger, lighter, and more flexible, and to function more like natural limbs. These high-tech prosthetic devices are being used by Paralympic athletes and by many non-competing amputees who want to continue to live an active lifestyle.

“We’ve seen firsthand how innovations in plastics used in active prostheses have helped athletes to not only overcome the trauma of limb loss, but flourish in competitive events like our own Extremity Games,” said Elizabeth Taylor, executive director of ADN. “The donations made through this program will help many athletes continue to compete in the sports they love.”

Established in 2009, ADN promotes a better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with physical disabilities. ADN operates and organizes the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame, the only Hall of Fame completely dedicated to honoring individuals with disabilities for sport and recreation achievement, and Extremity Games, an international extreme sports competition for athletes living with limb loss or limb difference.

About Plastics Make it Possible^SM
Plastics Make it Possible^SM highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com, check out our Facebook page and follow us @plasticpossible on twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticpossible.

About Athletes with Disabilities Network
Established in 2009, Athletes with Disabilities Network (ADN) was formed by joining Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame (ADHOF) and Extremity Events Network, organizers of Extremity Games. ADN’s mission is to promote a better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with physical disabilities. Programs and services include the Athlete with Disabilities Hall of Fame, Extremity Games, Mentoring and Outreach, Adaptive Sports Coalition and Collegiate Scholarships. For more information, please call 248.475.3623 or visit www.athleteswithdisabilities.org.

Plastics helped paralympian John Register become a world class athlete, see the video below to learn more:

John Register Shares His Story About How Plastics Helped Him Become a World Class Athlete from Plastics Make it Possible on Vimeo.

Prosthetic Designer Steve Byers Explains How Plastics Have Played a Role in the Evolution of Prostheses from Plastics Make it Possible on Vimeo.

After serving in the U.S. Army in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, I returned home and trained to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team. But on May 17, 1994, my life changed forever with one misstep over a hurdle. A faulty landing hyper-extended my left knee, resulting in an injury severing the popiliteal artery. An attempt to reconstruct the artery failed, and within days gangrene had turned my muscle black. Amputation was suggested.

As a contender for the 1996 Olympic team, having my left leg amputated was a devastating injury. Through the support and love of my family and friends and through the use of a prosthesis, I learned to walk again – and eventually to run.

It was swimming that took me to my first Paralympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, but it wasn’t until I watched the long jump competition that I realized my full potential as an amputee athlete.

As a former All-American long jumper, I was intrigued when I saw a person with an amputation similar to mine (above the knee) who wore a prosthesis and had the ability to run leg-over-leg to complete the maneuver.

The athlete began his run up to the take-off board, the crowd cheering and clapping rhythmically for him. He sprinted down the track and took off into the air – only to have his prosthesis fly off mid-flight! His prosthesis landed about three feet in front of him, and the entire crowd was dead silent.

The jumper turned to the official and yelled out for all to hear, “Hey, so where are you going to measure my jump from? From right here where I landed or over there where my artificial leg landed?”

The crowd and I both roared with laughter, and I learned a valuable lesson: it’s your attitude that determines your altitude. By changing my perspective from the five percent of things I could no longer do to focusing on the 95 percent of things I still could do, I realized that I could do almost anything.

As soon as I returned home from the Paralympics, I looked into getting outfitted with the proper runner’s leg I would need to return to the track. By using a leg with light and strong carbon fiber, along with a flexible plastic socket, I soon was able to get back into running.

The rest is history. After one year of running with my new prosthesis, I tied the American record in the long jump, and after two years I broke that record and captured the Silver medal at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

I never would have been able to achieve what I did without the amazing advances that have been made in the field of prosthetic design. Plastics have played such a huge part in the evolution of active prostheses, like the one I used to capture the Silver medal. Plastics have helped make them stronger, lighter, more flexible and allow for them to be individually fitted – something that is essential for any amputee runner to ensure the device stays secure and comfortable.

John Register is co-owner of Inspired Communications and is an inspirational catalyst. His dynamic keynote addresses and corporate training are based on the theme, “Hurdling Adversity.” For more information about booking John for your next presentation please visit him at http://johnregister.com/request.php.

Thank you for your support of the Plastics Make it Possible^SM campaign to raise money for the Athletes with Disabilities Network (ADN)!

Because of your help, we have raised $46,582 for ADN to provide services and mentorship for disabled athletes across the country.

For more information on ADN and their upcoming Extremity Games, visit www.athleteswithdisabilities.org

Did You Know?
• Plastics help make prostheses that are lighter, stronger, more flexible and more functional than ever before.
• Use of prosthetic limbs dates back to Ancient Egypt when arms, legs and even toes were fashioned out of wood, leather and cloth. Take a look at our timeline to see how far prosthetics have come over the centuries.
• Made of plastic, aluminum and composite materials, which allow for patient-molded and individually fitted prostheses, today’s devices are more functional, durable and comfortable than ever before. With the advent of computer chips and robotics, prostheses have crossed over from providing basic functionality to helping return amputees to their accustomed lifestyles.

Check out two-time Paralympian John Register’s story here.

People who want to help can visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/support to make a donation as small as $1 to ADN to help inspire athletes with disabilities to become the Paralympians of the future. Plastics Make it PossibleSM will match the first $25,000 in donations made through April 30. In just three weeks, this program could generate $50,000 in needed funds.

“Organizations like the Athletes with Disabilities Network can make such an amazing difference in people’s lives, helping them through what is otherwise a very traumatic time dealing with the loss of a limb. Being an amputee myself, I know how important that is,” said John Register, a former Paralympian who lost his left leg below the knee and now serves as a motivational speaker. “Participating in sports can really help amputees feel ‘normal’ again and today’s prostheses made from plastic, aluminum and composite materials are so well-designed and functional, that virtually no activity is out-of-reach.”

Modern prostheses have been revolutionized by plastic materials that help make them stronger, lighter, more flexible and realistic, to mimic the function of natural limbs. Made of plastic, aluminum and composite materials that allow for patient-molded and individually fitted prostheses, today’s devices are more functional, durable and comfortable than ever. Also, with the advent of microprocessors, computer chips and robotics, prostheses have crossed over from just providing basic functionality, to helping return amputees to the lifestyle they were accustomed to, and sometimes enabling them to push their bodies to farther limits than non-disabled athletes.

“From carbon fiber technology used for shock absorption to custom-fitted sockets made from resilient polycarbonates, plastics are a vital part of the innovative, active prostheses that are used by disabled athletes in the Paralympics and any sports they typically enjoy,” said Steve Russell, vice president, Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. “The Paralympics are a wonderful demonstration of what these amazing athletes can do in spite of amputations or other disabilities, and we are thrilled to be able to raise money for an organization like the Athletes with Disabilities Network to help inspire a whole new generation of athletes.”

Established in 2009, ADN promotes a better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with physical disabilities. ADN operates and organizes the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame, the only Hall of Fame completely dedicated to honoring individuals with disabilities for sport and recreation achievement, and Extremity Games, an international extreme sports competition for athletes living with limb loss or limb difference.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 1.7 million amputees in the United States. The makers of plastic prosthetic technologies remain committed to developing breakthrough devices to help disabled people live fuller, more active lives.

“For many people who have suffered the trauma of limb loss, getting involved in sports and continuing to pursue activities that they previously enjoyed can make a huge difference in their recoveries, self-confidence and quality of life,” said Elizabeth Taylor, executive director of ADN. “We’ve seen firsthand how innovations in prosthetic technology have helped athletes to not only overcome the trauma of limb loss, but flourish in international events like the Paralympics as well as our own Extremity Games. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Plastics Make it Possible^SM to help inspire a whole new generation of disabled athletes to ‘go for the gold’.”

Today, modern prosthetic limbs are lighter, stronger, and more life-like than ever before – thanks in part to plastics. Many designers are creating innovative prostheses specifically for amputees who wish to continue to lead active lives. Plastics often are used for many of these “active prostheses” because polymers can mimic characteristics of human parts, such as energy return, flex and strength, as well as help to increase grip and friction.

From the ancient times to today’s Paralympics, prostheses have evolved from uncomfortable and less functional first-generation materials to the highly individualized fitting and casting of today’s plastic-based devices. Here’s a look at how far prostheses have come throughout the centuries:

History of Prostheses

• 1069 to 664 B.C.: The Egyptians were the early pioneers of prosthetic technology. Their rudimentary prosthetic limbs were made of wood, leather and organic fibers and were worn for a sense of “wholeness” rather than to enable amputees to function. Archaeologists in 2000 unearthed the world’s earliest functioning prosthetic body part – an artificial big toe. The wood and leather prosthesis was found on an Egyptian mummy in a tomb outside the ancient city of Thebes.

• 300 B.C.: The majority of early prostheses in Europe, the first of which was discovered in Italy, were made to hide injuries sustained in battle. Prostheses fitted for knights were designed only to hold a shield or to make a leg appear in a stirrup, with little attention to functionality. Outside of battle, only the wealthy could afford to be fitted with prostheses designed for daily function.

• 1508: The Renaissance (1400s-1800s) ushered in a new perspective on science and medicine and saw a rebirth in the development of prostheses, which at the time were unwieldy devices made of iron, steel, copper and wood. In Germany, mercenary Gotz von Berlichingen (who lost his right arm in battle) created a technologically advanced iron hand that could be moved using a rudimentary system of springs and releases.

• 1536: French Army surgeon Ambroise Paré is considered by many to be the father of modern amputation surgery and prosthetic design. He introduced functional prostheses for upper- and lower-extremity amputees and invented an above-knee device consisting of a kneeling peg leg and foot prosthesis with a fixed position, adjustable harness, knee lock control and other engineering features still used in today’s devices. His work showed the first true understanding of how a prosthesis should function, and it was the first time that leather, paper and glue were used in place of heavy iron.

• 1696-1800: Dutch surgeon Pieter Verduyn developed the first non-locking, below-knee prosthesis that later would become the blueprint for current joint devices. More than 100 years later in London, James Potts designed an articulated foot controlled by catgut tendons from the knee to ankle. It became known as the “Anglesey Leg” after the Marquess of Anglesey who lost his leg in the Battle of Waterloo.

• 1861-1945: During the U.S. Civil War, the number of amputations rose astronomically, forcing Americans to enter the field of prosthetics. It wasn’t until after World War II, however, that the U.S. government brokered a deal with military contracting companies to improve the functionality of prostheses for returning veterans. This agreement paved the way to development and production of modern prostheses. It was during this time that more advance materials like plastics became incorporated into prosthetic design and began to resemble the prostheses we see today.

Prostheses Today:

With a record number of amputees surviving trauma and returning from combat or recovering from traumatic injuries such as car accidents, active and sports-grade prosthetics are more important that ever. Not only are Paralympic athletes demanding these high-tech prostheses, but many non-competing amputees are seeking to continue an active lifestyle.

“Carbon fiber” composites (plastic-based compounds) are playing a starring role in these developments. The use of carbon fiber springs in prostheses allows improved mobility and shock absorption without increased weight, enabling active amputees to wear limbs that can absorb two to four times their total body weight.

Carbon fibers also play a part in custom fitted sockets which are typically lined with a plastic gelled sock covered in nylon or spandex, allowing an amputee greater comfort throughout the day. Before the development of these socks, layers of light wool socks were often used to achieve this level of comfort.

The design and construction of a modern above-the-knee prosthetic device requires the expertise and support of kinesiologists, doctors, bio-mechanical engineers, structural engineers, materials and fabrication experts, coaches and the athletes themselves. An adjustable plastic-based socket connects the leg to the prosthesis. An artificial knee below the socket, constructed of aluminum, titanium and other metals, is encased in a protective lightweight plastic structure. The knee connects to the lower portion of the prosthesis through a device that both reduces shock and suppresses torque (the force generated by the turning of the knee during running motion) that otherwise would be absorbed by the person.

The prosthesis is then supported by an artificial foot constructed from polyurethane and carefully oriented so that the athlete stays aligned while running. Soft plastic exteriors allow for increased friction and flexibility of grasp, and the resulting biofeedback enables amputees to determine how much pressure they exert – a benefit that metal-only devices cannot offer. Because polyurethane does not easily fatigue, prosthetic designers now can create devices that store and return energy when users exert external force to augment and improve the capabilities of the prosthesis.

While war historically has spurred technological development in prosthetics, the Paralympics Games in the twentieth century proved to be another powerful catalyst. The esteemed international event has helped drive the development of lighter, more functional devices such as the gait-adaptive knee, an artificial limb that can be modified to fit its user. For example, in the 100-meter sprint event during the 2004 Athens Games, the slowest time in the men’s categories was 12.1 seconds, comparing favorably to just under 10 seconds for traditional Olympians.

Modern prostheses have been revolutionized by the development of plastic materials that help make them lighter, stronger, more flexible and more able to mimic the function of a natural limb. Today’s devices also are more functional, durable and comfortable because they are made of plastic, aluminum and composite materials that allow for patient-molded and individually fitted prostheses. And with the advent of microprocessors, computer chips and robotics, prostheses have crossed over from simply providing basic functionality to helping return amputees to their accustomed lifestyles.