The Hero Flex is a waterproof and ultra lightweight activity prosthesis. It has been built for comfort, ventilation, sweat resistance, and use in water. It is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, bike riding, gym workouts, yoga, handstands, gymnastics, PE lessons, music lessons, and athletics.
It is custom made for the individual and it is compatible with over 50 different activity attachments.
The Hero Flex plus two activity attachments meet the NHS’s funding criteria for sports and recreation. NHS England has the ability to fund activity arms for every child in England as long as the young person’s request meets the NHS criteria (listed below). Please ask your prosthetist to access the budget for sports and recreation prosthetics.
Adults can obtain a Hero Flex by working with their NHS prosthetist and asking to access their discretionary budget.
If you would like to buy a Hero Flex directly from Open Bionics, please sign up here.
If you are an existing Hero Arm user, you do not need a clinical appointment to get this device. We have your measurements stored and can ship a Hero Flex directly to your door without any travel or appointment with our team.
If you are an existing Hero Flex user and you do not want to visit an NHS clinic to get the activity attachments, you can buy them directly from Open Bionics and we will ship them to your door.
Below we have listed the criteria the NHS looks for from a patient to successfully approve an activity device. Funding will be provided if the following criteria are met:
- The child or young person is under the age of 18 when assessed for their prosthesis. The child or young person has suffered limb loss or congenital limb deficiency. The prostheses can be for any limb (or limbs if the child has multiple limb loss or deficiency). Upper and lower limb components can be included.
- In the opinion of the clinicians in the Limb Centre, the child or young person is fit to engage in physical activity.
- In the opinion of the Limb Centre, the child or young person will benefit from the prosthesis, and from engaging in the physical activity. Please note that the physical activity might include PE, sports or games at school, recreation, playing with friends or organised sporting activity.
- In the opinion of the Limb Centre, the prosthesis is appropriate for the child or young person, and the activity for which it is intended.
- The Limb centre is confident that there is a need for the prosthesis and that it will be used for more specialised activities (e.g. canoeing, rock climbing for example – there is a demonstrable interest in the sport, or a history of participation).
- As a parent or guardian it is important that you detail to your NHS clinician how the Hero Flex will enable your child to participate in their chosen activity.
Examples;
- If your child is interested in rock climbing and they want to train their upper body strength, you will need to request the Hero Flex and the Swinger attachment for pull ups and the Prana device for push-ups.
- If your child is interested in athletics and wants to participate in strength training, you will need to share with your clinician that you’d like the Hero Flex with a weight-lifting and body weight (push ups) activity attachments for gym use such as the Gripster activity attachment and Prana activity attachment.
- If your child is interested in cycling, you will need to request the Hero Flex and the bike riding attachment called Rider.
- If your child is participating in gymnastics, you will need to request the Hero Flex and the mat work attachment called Prana and the Swinger for use on bars. If your child is looking to kayak, you will need to request the Hero Flex with the Gripster attachment.
- If your child is looking to recreate through music, you will need to request the Hero Flex and Drummer attachment.
- If your child has a classroom or hobby activity involving building LEGO kits, you will need to request a Hero Flex combined with a Builder activity attachment
The Hero Flex is compatible with over 50 more attachments from other suppliers.
The activity attachments are compatible with any socket that has a USMC-wrist.
Please let us know which attachment you need for your activity!
Here are the Terminal devices we offer
Unleash your potential and invest in the activities you love with our brand-new range of activity attachments and tools. Whether you’re an adaptive yoga master, maker, biker, drummer, archer, gym-goer, martial artist, or all of the above, these adaptive tools are designed to support you in taking on new hobbies and ever greater challenges.
