- Name:
- Jim Strohmeyer
- Occupation:
- Logistician, US Army
- Type of Amputation:
- Right AK (at the hip)
 Born with a birth defect, Jim Strohmeyer walked around on crutches until his amputation at age 11. Since then he has seen a lot of changes in the O&P industry. "I was on a wooden SACH foot until the 1980's when technology improved," Jim says.
Subsequent to his amputation, Jim dealt with many heavy, cumbersome prostheses. "I am amputated at the hip, so I sit in a molded socket at my waist." Jim explains, "Rugged conditions were always problematic for me; stepping on a pebble could literally throw me sideways," he says. Being as active as he is, Jim found that his prosthesis often got in the way of his physical activities.
When technology started to improve within the O&P industry, Jim tried a few different types of laminate-style feet, but was never quite pleased with their performance. In 1999, however, all of that changed with Jim met his current prosthetist, Tim Salley at Wright and Filipis, who introduced him to the TruStep foot. "Tim got me of 'loaner' TruStep back in 1999, and it worked so well that I never looked back," Jim exclaims.
"The feet that I wore previously had nowhere near the flexibility of the TruStep," Jim says of his former prostheses. "Now I have a quicker, better pace, and more stability. I have a lot more confidence now because of the range of motion, and the foot handles energy very well. Since wearing the TruStep, my stride is much better. It is safer on uneven ground, and the durability is good," Jim says. "I like the confidence and trust I have in the TruStep."
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