American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists

How does proximal cuff design influence gait mechanics in carbon fiber custom dynamic orthoses? This study, with contributions from Jason Wilken, compared four commonly used cuff designs and found similar effects on limb mechanics, foot loading, and comfort, suggesting clinicians may be able to base cuff selection on factors such as patient preference, ease of donning and doffing, or available range of motion.

🔗 Read the full study: https://buff.ly/J3x2ZzN

Can clarifying insurance coverage for orthotic and prosthetic devices improve health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs? This study, with contributions from Academy member Jeff Cain, evaluated projected fiscal impacts across 23 states, finding that expanded coverage was associated with positive return on investment and net fiscal savings under the modeled scenarios.

🔗 Read the full study: https://buff.ly/cp6d2uW

Effective communication can strengthen patient relationships, improve engagement, and support better clinical outcomes. Join the Behavioral Science Society's new webinar series to explore practical, evidence-informed strategies for navigating challenging patient encounters through expert-led presentations and interactive case discussions.

Behavioral Science Society members attend both sessions free, making it a valuable opportunity to build skills you can apply in practice. Not a Society member? Join for $35 and attend both sessions at no additional cost.

Learn more and register: https://www.oandp.org/behavioral-science-society-webinar

New research from Wake Forest University is advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms behind tissue and limb regeneration. By studying axolotls and identifying genes involved in regeneration, researchers hope to inform future therapies that could improve healing and, over time, support regenerative approaches for people with limb loss.

🔗 Read the full story:

These salamanders may hold the key to human tissue and limb regeneration | Wake Forest News Mexican axolotls readily regrow tissue. One of their genes could hold the secret to human limb regeneration, too.

Where do current recommendations for prosthetic limb prescription provide clear guidance—and where do important gaps remain? This scoping review with contributions from Academy member Jason W. Stoneback found that most consensus and clinical recommendations focus on lower-limb prosthetic feet and knees, while identifying limited guidance for pediatric prostheses, joint disarticulation, partial foot/hand amputation, and bone-anchored limbs, highlighting opportunities for future research and clinical guidance.

🔗 Read the full report: https://buff.ly/47EqdcN

Getting a first prosthesis comes with countless decisions, and knowing what questions to ask can make a meaningful difference. In Amplitude, Chris Egert shares how his own experience with limb loss shaped his approach to prosthetic care and why self-advocacy is an important part of the rehabilitation journey.

https://buff.ly/lstajcm

The Questions That Changed Everything - Amplitude TV news anchor and amputee Chris Egert shares the questions he wishes he'd asked before getting his first prosthesis—and why self-advocacy matters throughout prosthetic care.

For Virginia Muthard, CPO/L, MSDS, FAAOP(D), the most meaningful contributions to the O&P profession come through service, mentorship, and supporting others. As an Academy Fellow with Distinction, she reflects on the career experiences that shaped her journey and the advice she has for the next generation of practitioners.

Read more in our latest Fellow Spotlight: https://buff.ly/1dWr60X

How do neural activity and lower limb coordination work together during gait after unilateral transfemoral amputation? This study examined the relationship between cortical dynamics and gait coordination, finding distinct patterns between the intact and prosthetic limbs that may provide new insights into gait control and future prosthetic rehabilitation strategies.

🔗 Read the full study: https://buff.ly/HWYaWrJ

Academy member Meghan Hancock, MSOP, is the first resident in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's new combined 18-month orthotics and prosthetics residency program. https://buff.ly/8oXIA8p

UAB Launches Combined O&P Residency Program - The O&P EDGE Magazine The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation transitioned its O&P residency program to a combined 18-month training model in line with new national standards. […]

After losing his leg to bone cancer, 13-year-old Gavin Yonce returned to the sports he loves with the help of a rotationplasty procedure and a prosthesis. Now, he and his family are advocating for expanded insurance coverage for activity-specific prosthetic and orthotic devices through the So Every BODY Can Move campaign.

🔗 Read the full story:

After beating bone cancer, Virginia teen is fighting so other kids with limb loss can keep playing sports After losing his leg to Ewing sarcoma, a Virginia teenager is fighting so other kids with limb loss can keep playing sports that they love.