BU Research Blog

Riding for gold: 2016 Paralympic Games Prosthetic Limb Development

Our next instalment of the ‘Photo of the Week’ series features Dr Bryce Dyer’s image of prosthetic limb development for the 2016 Paralympic games. The series is a weekly instalment which features an image taken by our fantastic BU staff and students. The photos give a glimpse into some of the fascinating work our researchers have been doing across BU and the wider community.

This image illustrates some of the aerodynamic testing that was conducted as part of a project to develop a new prosthetic limb for several elite-level cyclists. The image here shows elite GB paracyclist Craig Preece using one of the final prototype designs in an indoor wind tunnel. Craig is an amputee who lost one of his lower limbs in active combat as a member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. The testing process evaluated several designs for their impact on his aerodynamic drag. After this project was completed, Preece went on to win gold at the 2016 Invictus Games using the final design.

If you’d like find out more about the research or the photo itself then please contact Dr Dyer.

This photo was originally an entry to the 2017 Research Photography Competition. If you have any other questions about the Photo of the Week series or the competition please email research@bournemouth.ac.uk