How Avior's Baseline Configurations Are Built for Real-World Rehab

"It Evolves with Them": How Avior Baseline Configurations Are Built for Real-World Rehab 

When you work with K2-level amputees, one of the biggest challenges isn’t just getting the correct components but predicting potential. Pick the wrong knee at the wrong stage of rehab, and you’re looking at delays, funding issues, and a lot of patient frustration. But what if the knee you started with could evolve with the patient? 

That’s precisely what the Avior microprocessor knee sets out to do, with baseline configurations designed to support patients and clinicians through every step of the rehab journey.

Starting Simple, Building Confidence 

"For clinicians, especially in vascular clinics, the majority of transfemoral amputees tend to be K2 patients” Graham explains. “When they’re starting, particularly if they’re primary amputees, they need that Lock-Lock configuration to feel safe. They need to feel stable and secure in order to build their confidence to progress to their potential."

That’s where Avior’s baseline configurations come in: Lock-Lock, Lock-Free, and Yield-Free. 

Each mode reflects a different phase in the patient journey: 

• Lock-Lock offers full knee stability and is typically used for the first few weeks of rehab, especially when a user is deconditioned or nervous about walking. 
• Lock-Free provides controlled movement and is often introduced after initial stability is established, usually for another one to two weeks, depending on the patient's progress. 
• Yield-Free unlocks the full potential of the knee, enabling a more natural walking pattern. This model can be implemented shortly after, particularly in settings with strong multidisciplinary team (MDT) support. 

"It's like a step up in mobility,” Graham says. "From Lock Lock, to Lock Free, to Yield Free. It’s a nice progression that can be individualised to each user. Fewer Swaps, Less Stress."

Traditionally, a patient may begin with a low-activity mechanical prosthetic knee. If they progressed, you’d need to swap it out halfway through rehab, which causes delays, logistics, and administrative headaches.

Avior avoids that. The patient stays on the same device, and clinicians unlock the next level of function and configure it to the individual user when they are ready.

"You're not trying to predict the future anymore," he adds. "You don’t have to guess how far someone will go. Avior covers all the bases forward or backwards."

The Knee That Evolves with the Patient

Rehabilitation isn’t always linear. Some patients start strong and have setbacks, while others take time to build confidence and then fly. 

"I’ve seen so many patients given a high-activity knee at the start because they were predicted to do well,” Graham says. “But it was too much—it ended up in a cupboard, never used. Then there’s the other end: patients prescribed a lower activity knee who then progressed and had to change halfway through. It was a massive headache." 

Avior, instead, adapts. 

"You can go forward in mobility—or backwards, if necessary. Either way, the knee matches their function. That’s the advantage."

Simpler for the Clinician, Better for the Patient

Avior’s setup is also straightforward. Programming is completed quickly through a guided app interface, and adjustments can be made easily. 

"If you can use an app, you can set this up," Graham says. "You’re just following prompts, sliding bars—it’s pretty foolproof."

And beyond the practicalities, there’s the mental benefit for patients: they stay on a device they know, with no big learning curve every time their mobility changes. 

"It reduces that stress," he says. "Rehab is already tough—physically and mentally. The last thing a patient needs is to get used to one knee, then be told it’s being swapped out."

Natural Gait, Less Strain

When a patient reaches Yield-Free mode, their gait more closely mimics the natural knee. 

"You’re getting extension resistance, flexion control, and stance yield," Graham explains. "It’s smoother, more controlled. And that means fewer gait deviations and less energy expenditure which allow the patient to do more", 

From a clinical point of view, it encourages a more natural gait. "We’re always trying to reduce those gait deviations. This helps us do that."

Looks Good and Works Brilliantly

Avior doesn’t just perform exceptionally well, it looks great too.

"For me, it functions better than anything else," says Graham. "That’s the main thing." But patients also appreciate how it looks. "It’s also got a really nice cosmetic cover," he adds. "It gives them confidence, both in how it moves and looks."

So, what does all of this mean for clinicians?

"You’re getting one knee that covers all those aspects of the rehab journey," Graham says. "It improves patient outcomes. It’s easy to set up. It makes your life easier, and it makes their journey smoother." 

Clinically, it’s about reducing friction. Logistically, it avoids costly and time-consuming changes. And for the patient? It’s about building confidence every step of the way.

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