American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists

10/16/2026

Can simple linear regression describe how a transradial residual limb relates to its final socket geometry? In 14 participants, overall socket size was largely predictable from limb size, while local geometry was harder to predict toward the proximal and distal ends where trimline design, suspension strategy and distal-end clearance play a greater role.

🔗 Read the full study: https://buff.ly/9i1jKhw

10/15/2026

Bilateral Life Camp trains bilateral above-knee amputees to handle curbs, uneven ground and stairs. The camp began 20 years ago with six people, and this year's participants come from 18 states and 10 countries.

Curbs, uneven ground and stairs are part of the training at Bilateral Life Camp, where participants build skills and confidence to navigate life after camp.

10/15/2026

Advocates with the So Every BODY Can Move campaign in Alabama, including Academy member Ruth Guiness, are drafting a bill that would require insurers to cover prostheses built for physical activity.

“This is a discrimination of care,” Guinness said. “Any one of us could be a part of the disabled community at any moment. It shouldn’t have to be the thought of us being a part of this community to take action now.”

🔗 Read more:

A group of Alabama amputees and advocates with the campaign So Every BODY Can Move are drafting a bill that would require insurance companies to cover prostheses built for physical activity.

10/14/2026

A below-elbow amputee is now using the LUKE Arm with an implanted peripheral nerve interface independently at home as part of a yearlong early feasibility study. The system, developed at the University of Utah, responds to intended movement and returns a sense of touch.

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A yearlong home trial is testing whether the nerve-connected LUKE Arm can maintain reliable control and sensory feedback during unsupervised everyday use.

10/14/2026

In today's episode of O&P Clinical Care Insiders, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), welcomes Lindi Mitsou, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP, co-chair of the Academy’s Fabrication Sciences Society, to explore the critical role fabrication plays in orthotic and prosthetic patient outcomes.

They discuss how seemingly minor fabrication details can lead to significant clinical challenges, from socket clicks and elevated vacuum leaks to thermoplastic failures, and why materials knowledge, troubleshooting, and quality control are essential to successful patient care. Lindi shares how emerging technologies, additive manufacturing, and evidence-based materials selection are shaping the future of fabrication, while highlighting the importance of collaboration between clinicians and technicians.

The conversation also addresses workforce challenges, the need for continued technician education, and resources available through the Fabrication Sciences Society.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://buff.ly/POtiI4k

This episode is sponsored by Ottobock.

10/14/2026

What does the evidence say about bracing for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease? This scoping systematic review of 12 studies found substantial variability in brace designs, indications and protocols with no universally accepted bracing protocol, and calls for prospective studies with standardized protocols and transparent reporting of adherence.

🔗 Read the full review: https://buff.ly/V5YYA7p

10/14/2026

At an Adaptive Sports Day in Norcross, Georgia, 23 participants with limb loss worked with prosthetists and coaches before taking part in movement activities and football drills. Former Falcons wide receiver Michael Haynes helped lead the football portion of the event, while four-time Paralympian Jarryd Wallace also joined participants in the day’s activities.

Read more via Amplitude:

Adaptive Sports Day brought amputees together for prosthetic fittings, movement training, and football drills, creating a different kind of comeback

10/14/2026

For patients with diabetes, can multidisciplinary care teams reduce the risk of major amputation compared with traditional diabetic care? This Critically Appraised Topic by M. Czerwiec reviews three small studies from Singapore, China and Canada: two found multidisciplinary teams were linked to a longer time to amputation or fewer major amputations, and the third found fewer hospitalizations.

Explore the full CAT for the evidence synthesis and implications for clinical practice.

Read more: https://buff.ly/lOo9U1J

10/13/2026

Sam Waddington, who lost a leg in a bike accident, is sharing his experience in a new Day One Trauma Support campaign. Now a peer support volunteer, he describes the challenges of adjusting to a prosthesis and the support he found through meeting other amputees.

Sam Waddington is the face of a new campaign by Day One Trauma Support, highlighting how survival is not the same as recovery

10/13/2026

This week! Explore how adult learning, collaborative care, and behavioral science principles can improve patient education, engagement, and health behavior change.

Join the Academy’s Behavioral Science Society for a FREE webinar featuring:

• Adult Learning Principles in Patient Care
• Interdisciplinary Care in Diabetes Management
• Education vs. Motivation

Moderated by John Brinkmann, CPO/LPO, FAAOP(D), this practical session offers strategies to improve communication, strengthen patient relationships, and support better clinical outcomes.

Register here: https://buff.ly/xE4yISB