After more than 20 years of using one-handed workarounds for daily life, Leonard found that his right shoulder had deteriorated to the point where he needed help with simple tasks like drinking water.
“Leonard desperately needed a prosthesis,” said Isabel Gonzalez, certified prosthetist at Open Bionics’ Charlotte, North Carolina, clinic. “His right shoulder is so worn out from compensating movements that he can’t lift a glass of water to his mouth anymore. To take a drink, Leonard had to grip the glass with his right hand, then use a prosthesis on his left arm to raise his right arm to his mouth.”
Leonard lost his left hand and forearm in a car tire explosion in 2005. He adapted quickly and remained independent, learning how to manage life with one hand. Now retired, he stays active, spending his days doing yard work, maintaining his home, and enjoying hobbies such as golf and competitive pool.
As nearly every bimanual task shifted to his right side, cooking, carrying groceries, dressing, and stabilizing objects all depended on his one sound arm. To make those tasks possible, Leonard twisted his torso, relied on his neck and back for leverage, and repeatedly overloaded the same joints and muscle groups. These compensatory movements became routine.
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“You don’t really notice it at first. You just keep adjusting how you move until one day you realize everything hurts.” -Leonard
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“You don’t really notice it at first,” Leonard said. “You just keep adjusting how you move until one day you realize everything hurts.”
Over time, those adjustments began to take a toll. Leonard developed chronic pain in his right shoulder, neck, and back and required physical therapy to manage the added strain. His right shoulder continued to deteriorate, eventually losing significant range of motion and strength. What began as discomfort progressed into a condition that limited his ability to lift, reach, or generate force.
“It wasn’t one big injury,” Leonard said. “It was years of doing things the wrong way because I didn’t have another option. I just wanted to be able to give my right shoulder a break,” he added. “And I was afraid to get the surgery I needed because I don’t have a left hand to rely on.”
The progression of his overuse injuries removed what had long been his primary source of independence. Leonard’s body-powered prosthesis relied on a harness and cable system operated by the sound-side shoulder. As that shoulder worsened, operating the device became physically impossible and increasingly painful. The harnessing system had caused discomfort even before his shoulder declined, and continuing to use it placed additional strain on an already damaged joint.
“If something hurts to wear, you stop wearing it,” Leonard said. “That’s just reality.”
Without a functional prosthesis, Leonard relied more heavily on compensatory movements, reinforcing the same patterns that contributed to his shoulder deterioration. Daily activities became increasingly difficult. Carrying groceries required planning and rest. Preparing meals felt unsafe. Eating in public became something Leonard avoided.
“I don’t want to ask for help cutting my food in public,” he said. “That part really gets to you.”
Without a prosthetic solution that reduced compensation, Leonard’s body was locked into a cycle of overuse. Continuing that cycle increased the risk of further injury to his shoulder, neck, back, and remaining upper extremity, especially as he approached the need for shoulder replacement surgery.
Leonard learned about Open Bionics through his son in Nashville and followed the technology for several years. When his shoulder reached a critical point, he scheduled an evaluation at the Open Bionics Charlotte clinic.
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“This is the first time it feels like both sides of my body can actually work together” -Leonard
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During the evaluation, Leonard was assessed for the Hero PRO, a multi-grip myoelectric bionic arm designed to restore bimanual function without relying on harnessing or sound-side shoulder movement. Trial testing showed that Leonard could produce strong, consistent muscle signals in his residual limb and independently control opening and closing movements of the hand.
Multi-grip myoelectric technology allows users to select different grip patterns and adjust grip strength using muscle contractions. These systems support tasks that require both strength and fine motor control, such as stabilizing food while cutting, pulling a golf cart, or holding a pool cue. Redistributing functional workload to the affected side reduces the compensatory strategies that led to Leonard’s overuse injuries.
“This is the first time it feels like both sides of my body can actually work together,” Leonard said after the delivery of his bionic arm.
Despite the clear clinical need, Leonard’s insurance initially denied coverage for the prosthesis. His clinician appealed the decision and was ultimately able to secure approval.
Without a functional left prosthesis, recovery from shoulder replacement surgery would likely require inpatient rehabilitation. Basic self-care tasks would be unsafe or impossible to perform independently, increasing both physical risk and cost of care. Leonard’s Hero PRO allows him to rely on his left side during recovery, reducing the need to overload his injured shoulder as it heals.
Leonard’s Hero PRO is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant bionic arm designed to restore bimanual function without harnesses.
“He can finally have surgery on his ‘good side’ now that he has this prosthesis to rely on during his recovery,” Isabel said. “He intends for the Hero PRO to be his new ‘good side’ for now.”
Leonard’s Hero PRO includes a waterproof Hero Flex socket and a universal wrist connector that allows him to swap his bionic hand for activity attachments used for tasks such as golfing or playing pool. A Boa-style dial on the socket allows him to adjust the fit throughout the day as limb volume fluctuates. Consistent suspension supports comfort, control, and skin health, all of which influence daily wear time. Wear time plays a direct role in reducing compensatory movement, helping prevent a return to damaging overuse patterns.
“He’s also very good at playing pool with his prosthesis,” Isabel said.
Leonard’s goal is to protect his remaining shoulder, recover from surgery, and maintain independence as he ages.
“I’m not trying to do anything extraordinary,” Leonard said. “I just want to keep living my life without breaking something else.”
With his Hero PRO, Leonard no longer has to rely on one shoulder to carry the full weight of daily life.
If overuse injuries or a poorly fitting prosthesis are limiting your independence, a free consultation with a certified prosthetist can help determine whether a myoelectric bionic arm is the right next step. Schedule your consult to explore what’s possible.
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