9th March 2026
Children with limb differences are active, curious, and constantly developing new skills. Whether a limb difference is present from birth or results from illness or injury, the right prosthetic at the right time can make a meaningful difference in how a child participates in daily life, builds confidence, and experiences the world around them.
Modern prosthetics for children are designed to support movement, comfort, and self-expression during key stages of development. Advances in bionic technology over the past decade have made devices lighter, more capable, and easier to personalize than ever before. For many children and families, those improvements open new possibilities for independence that were not available even a few years ago.
Children learn through movement and play. Activities like riding a bike, carrying a school bag, drawing, playing games with friends, or learning a musical instrument often benefit from two hands. A well-fitted prosthetic can help children take part in those activities more easily and build independence over time.
Prosthetic use also supports emotional and social development. Research on pediatric prosthetic adoption shows links between functional prosthetic use and improved confidence, stronger peer relationships, and greater participation in school and daily life.
Early fitting can play an important role as well. When children begin using a prosthetic device at a young age, myoelectric control often becomes more natural as it integrates into everyday movement patterns. Clinical research consistently supports early fitting where appropriate, and Open Bionics clinicians can advise families on timing as part of the initial consultation.
One of the biggest challenges in pediatric prosthetics is growth. Children grow quickly, which means sockets must be adjusted or replaced more frequently than in adult users. Historically, that created both logistical and financial challenges for families.
Modern fabrication methods have improved that process significantly. We use 3D printing to create custom-fit sockets that match a child’s residual limb precisely. Because each design is stored digitally, clinicians can update or reproduce a socket without restarting the entire fabrication process. That reduces production time and minimizes disruption when fit adjustments are needed as a child grows.
The Hero Arm is available for children as young as five, making it one of the few multi-grip myoelectric bionic arms designed and clinically approved for pediatric use. We operate 12 specialist clinics focused exclusively on upper limb prosthetics across the United States.
Our Hero Arm uses EMG electrodes that sit on the surface of a residual limb. Those sensors detect small muscle signals generated when a child contracts muscles in their arm. The system translates those signals into finger movement and grip patterns in the bionic hand.
Most children learn to control the device quickly. With practice and guidance from our clinicians, muscle control becomes intuitive and responsive. The wireless design removes one of the most common sources of reliability problems in earlier myoelectric systems, and the lightweight construction reduces the fatigue that leads to reduced wear time in heavier devices.
In April 2025, we introduced the Hero PRO and Hero RGD, following four years of development and feedback from around 1,000 users. Both devices are fully wireless and waterproof, and operate more than twice as fast as many existing bionic hands. Tilly Lockey, who has worn Hero Arms for nine years after losing both hands to meningitis as a toddler, helped test the new devices.
“The arms are so much stronger,” she said. “There literally isn’t a single other arm that can do this. No other arm is wireless and waterproof, and it’s faster than everything else while still being the lightest bionic hand.”
Children commonly use a bionic arm for everyday activities including:
Kiowa is 11 years old and was born with a limb difference on his left side. He spends his days biking, riding horses, practicing taekwondo, and training archery. When his mother Nicole worked with the Open Bionics Los Angeles clinic to apply for a CAF Adaptive Sports Equipment Grant, Kiowa received funding for Hero Flex activity arms that gave him more freedom across every one of those activities.
“He’s always been capable,” Nicole said. “This just gives him more freedom to do what he loves.”
Kiowa’s story is a practical example of how modern pediatric prosthetics have moved beyond everyday function into active, sport-focused use. The Hero Flex socket connects to activity attachments that support cycling, sports training, and other physical disciplines, allowing children to use a single device across a wide range of activities rather than managing separate prostheses for different contexts.
Access to advanced pediatric prosthetics is not always straightforward. Remington Bateman, a nine-year-old from Utah, was denied coverage for a Hero Arm by her insurer, Select Health, which classified the device as not medically necessary. Her family launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $30,000 in days. When CrowdHealth stepped in to cover Remi’s Hero Arm directly, the family used the donated funds to purchase a Hero Arm for Taj, an eight-year-old in Maryland facing the same insurance barriers.
Remi’s mother Jami said the family shared their story to raise awareness of a broader problem. “Remi absolutely needs this device to aid her in two-handed tasks and activities,” she said. “It is going to support her spinal and shoulder health as she grows too.”
Elise Dreiling, Remi’s clinician at the Open Bionics clinic in Colorado, said the clinical case for coverage was clear. “After a careful evaluation, we determined that Remi could utilize this technology to great effect,” she said. “It will improve her life and health. We hope insurance companies will begin to approve more devices for upper limb amputees that can significantly impact their health and quality of life.”
Remi’s case is covered in more detail in the blog on prosthetic insurance coverage, which walks through the documentation process, appeals, and available reimbursement pathways including Medicare and Medicaid.
For many children, the appearance of a prosthetic device matters as much as its function. A device a child feels excited to wear is a device that gets worn. Open Bionics built personalization into the Hero Arm from the beginning. Magnetic covers allow children to change the look of their prosthetic across a range of colors and designs, including officially licensed superhero styles.
When a child chooses a design inspired by a favorite character or personal interest, the prosthetic becomes something they proudly show to friends rather than something to conceal. That shift has a meaningful clinical impact. Children who feel proud of their device wear it more consistently, interact with peers more confidently, and are more likely to develop strong myoelectric control over time. Personalization is both an aesthetic feature and a practical factor in long-term outcomes.
Parents and caregivers are central to a child’s prosthetic journey. The fitting process, training period, and daily encouragement all benefit from families who understand what to expect and feel supported by their clinical team. Open Bionics clinicians specialize exclusively in upper limb prosthetics and work with pediatric patients and their families from the initial consultation through long-term follow-up. Every device is custom-fabricated, and the fitting process is designed to be straightforward for both child and parent.
Occupational therapists often support children during the early training period, helping develop muscle control, practice everyday tasks, and build confidence with the device. Peer communities of other children and families with similar experiences provide a form of encouragement and practical knowledge that complements clinical support.
With the right device, the right clinical team, and an environment that encourages use, many children with limb differences grow up pursuing sports, creative interests, and careers without meaningful limitation.
If your child has a limb difference and you want to explore what modern bionic technology can offer, book a free consultation with an Open Bionics specialist. The team will walk you through device options, the fitting process, and available funding pathways, and answer any questions you have about what to expect.
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