Gamify Your Practice: Promoting Lower-Limb Prosthesis Users’ Engagement in Physical Activity

The goal for many people with lower-limb amputations is to ambulate confidently with their prostheses and to return to a high level of social integration. To gain mobility, strength, and endurance, which contributes to increased physical activity and mental health, they need access to an active training program and monitoring by their multidisciplinary team.

Functions that are efficiently achieved by adults without amputations, such as climbing a ramp or walking with crutches, can become a significant hurdle for individuals with lower-limb amputations. In some ways, it’s more important for people with amputations to meet their physical fitness needs than those in the general community because a minor decrease in strength and endurance may diminish physical independence.¹ The ability to walk is a strong determinant of health-related quality of life, allowing amputees to move around their environment more independently and safely, impacting their choice of activities and participation in them.