Teamwork and Innovation Support Young Amputee’s Fitness Goals

Peke Waihanga teamwork and creativity is helping 15-year-old Elliott reach his CrossFit goals.  

Elliott Crimp was two-years old when he contracted meningitis which resulted in partial limb loss on all four of his limbs with many surgeries and procedures over the ensuing 13 years. He now has a partial foot amputation on his left side and a Symes amputation on his right side. 

Elliott lives with his nanny Kathy, mother Kushla and two older brothers Angus and Ian in Rotorua and is part of a very active family. 

Photo by Starship Foundation.

“We all attend the Rotovegas boxing gym (except Nanny) and we all do the CrossFit classes they have with coach Jase. He is also about to start taking me for personal training to improve my chances of making the Torian Pro next year, the New Zealand and Australian CrossFit championship. I also work at the Electric bike shop in Rotorua, and my amazing bosses Frankie and Joe, let me and my family take the electric bikes out and do trails in the Forrest whenever we want” Elliott says. 

Over the years Elliott has had many insoles and rigid componentry which did not absorb shock very well and together with the length of the stump and a stiff carbon foot plate, his ability to reach his CrossFit goals has been hindered. He asked Peke Waihanga for an appointment to discuss a below-knee amputation to enable him to do more physically, meet his CrossFit goals and keep up with his peers at school. 

The consultation was with the Hamilton Centre multi-disciplinary team, consisting of a doctor, nurse physiotherapist and prosthetist/orthotist Johan Nieman. 

The team considered and agreed to Johan’s solution that a hinged AFO be prescribed to unload forces on Elliott’s left side (where he has a partial foot prosthesis). The AFO stabilises the movement from mid-stance to toe-off which helps Elliott achieve a fluid gait and tolerate high-intensity loading. 

On his Symes side, Elliott was prescribed a Cheetah X-Plore foot which gives him active mobility through high-impact and unpredictable terrains. He has a lightweight, carbon fibre socket for ultimate comfort. The above was able to be provided through Starship Foundation funding.

The team hopes these solutions means Elliott can reach his goals without a below-knee amputation being necessary. 

Elliott’s mum Kushla says he “puts 100 percent into everything he does”.  

“Elliott loves pushing himself physically. He wants to be a physical trainer, mentor or PE teacher. For Elliott as long as he is in a role that is encouraging and supporting others, he will thrive” she says.