# Do double leg amputees adjust their height depending on mood or who they are with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-double-leg-amputees-adjust-their-height-depending-on-mood-or-who-they-are-with/685809 "2014-04-10T18:04:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-double-leg-amputees-adjust-their-height-depending-on-mood-or-who-they-are-with/685809/1 "2014-04-10T18:04:27Z")
This question came up after watching Amy Purdy on dancing with the stars. She’s a double leg amputee just like Oscar Pistorious. I’ve seen video of Amy running on blades training for Snowboarding events. [Her legs](http://motherboard-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/content-images/article/fembots-have-feelings-too-an-interview-with-amy-purdy/df219de2a8e77e21b329e1c9428f085e.jpg). She’s got multiple pairs for different occasions. It makes me wonder if she ever changes her height? Like she’s got a date with a short dude. So, wear the short legs. Dating a basketball player? Wear the longer legs. I really admire at how well they adapt. They are pretty much walking on stilts. [I have a pair that I used finishing drywall and painting.](https://www.cisl.ucar.edu/news/03/fotoweek/0326.stilts.jpg) Busted my ass on them a few times. Anyone know an amputee? Would they change their height on a whim or just for a special occasion? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-double-leg-amputees-adjust-their-height-depending-on-mood-or-who-they-are-with/685809/2 "2014-04-10T18:48:15Z")
Some do. Relevant [TED talk by Hugh Herr](http://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance) with a conclusion by dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis who lost her left leg in the Boston Marathon attack. Also, [talk by David Sengeh](http://www.ted.com/talks/david_sengeh_the_sore_problem_of_prosthetic_limbs) about making prosthetic limbs comfortable ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-double-leg-amputees-adjust-their-height-depending-on-mood-or-who-they-are-with/685809/3 "2014-04-10T22:45:20Z")
I can see the need for multiple prosthetic legs. Especially for the athletic amputees. Different sports require special adjustments to the prosthetic. Derek Hough said in his blog they got a special swimmer’s prosthetic for some of Amy’s dances. The ankle is pointed so that the weight is on the toes. Like a high heel shoe. WAG Swimmers use it because they can kick with their legs and swim faster. Anyway, why not be taller one week and shorter the next week? Just wear a different prosthetic. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-double-leg-amputees-adjust-their-height-depending-on-mood-or-who-they-are-with/685809/4 "2014-04-11T00:27:38Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Some do. Relevant [TED talk by Hugh Herr](http://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance) with a conclusion by dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis who lost her left leg in the Boston Marathon attack. I haven’t watched Hugh’s TED talk yet, but I know he has legs of different lengths for rock climbing on different routes. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-double-leg-amputees-adjust-their-height-depending-on-mood-or-who-they-are-with/685809/5 "2014-04-11T00:44:12Z")
Aimee Mullins has (at least) 12 pairs of legs, some of them of different heights, and has given TED talks on the matter.