Whether you are a new amputee or have walked with a prosthetic limb for a while, it’s worth taking time to assess what you want to achieve.
There are many factors that affect how comfortable and functional your new limb will be. Some are related to the construction of the limb, while others come down to what your current health and mobility is like.
For amputees who are receiving their first limb, it is very important to consult their doctor and physiotherapist to improve their general health as well as train to improve their balance, endurance and strength.
For experienced amputees it can be important to seek additional help to correct existing gait deviations (bad walking habits). Just because a person has walked on a certain style of leg before does not necessarily mean this is the most appropriate design for them at that point in time. The technology behind prosthetics is constantly evolving and improving, giving us more possibilities to solve past problems.
Sometimes over several years inappropriate gait patterns can develop which requires correction. During our prosthetic process we identify prosthetic gait issues, briefly correct and teach the patients the basics. If we identify a situation that requires further or in-depth training we usually recommend seeing a physiotherapist.