There are an estimated 65 million people that live with limb amputations globally, with 1.5 million people undergoing amputations—mostly of the lower limb—each year. Most people with amputations need access to prosthetic services, and this need is expected to double by 2050.1 With a limited number of physicians with sufficient expertise in prosthetic prescription and amputee rehabilitation, there is a growing need for well-coordinated teams to guide optimal prescription and rehabilitation.2
A key component of the rehabilitation process for people with lower-limb amputations is the provision of prosthetic care. Generally, the goal for patients with limb loss is to restore function and quality of life as much as possible without overlooking aesthetics. Lower-limb prostheses can give patients a chance to enhance their ambulation by decreasing the excess energy requirements of crutch walking. Additionally, prostheses can improve the patients’ balance with restoration of bilateral proprioceptive feedback through the residual limb-prosthesis interface. Improved mobility also gives users the chance to gain independence by doing most of their activities of daily living without the assistance of another person.3
