Information For Amputees
Amputee Coalition of America (ACA)
Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF)
Fitness & Health
Bob Gailey
Robert S Gailey, PhD, PT is an Associate Professor at the University of Miami, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy, where he has taught, practiced clinically and conducted research for the past 20 years. He has a joint position with Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a health science researcher. He has authored over 50 publications and has continued research efforts directed toward: amputee rehabilitation, the biomechanics and metabolic cost of prosthetic gait, functional assessment and athletic pursuits of the amputee as well as other athletes with disabilities across the life span.
A talented physical therapist and a thought-provoking educator, Bob is a mover and a shaker in the field of amputee rehabilitation. He remains active with many organizations including the Amputee Coalition of America and the American Physical Therapy Association. He also participated as a member of the United States Disabled Sports Medial Team in several World Championships and Paralympic Games and continues to work with some of the most elite athletes with disabilities from around the world.
"Whether you are a new amputee getting your first prosthesis, or somebody who has been an amputee for some time, remember that the next time you go to get a new prosthesis you should be entitled to receive some physiotherapy. Technology is changing and improving rapidly - get some physical therapy to help you make the most of it.
- Helpful Links:
University of Miami, Dept of Physical Therapy
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Taking Care of your Limb
Care of the residual limb:
It is important to examine your skin often. Clean the residual limb in lukewarm water every night. Use a moisturizer that the medical team has recommended (such as Clean and Simple from Össur) and leave the moisturizer on the skin overnight. If possible, don't use the prosthesis again until the next morning.
If the residual limb feels too moist in the morning, decrease the amount of lotion used or switch to another with a lower fat content.
To preserve the shape of the residual limb it is important that you use the liner even when you are not using the prosthesis. However, to avoid blisters and eczema it is also essential to air the skin once or several times a day, depending on the circumstances.
Changes within the muscle and skin tissues continue well into the first year. Work closely with your prosthetist to keep the prosthesis fitting well while these changes occur.
Care of the silicone liner:
It is important to keep Iceross silicone liners clean for hygienic reasons. Turn the liner inside out and wash the inside of the liner every day with mild soap and a cloth. Rinse thoroughly with water and leave to dry. Once dry, return the liner to its normal position and always store in this condition. Wash the outside of the liner also to remove dirt. When you are at home, the liner can be washed in a washing machine at temperatures of up to 60 oC.
Get Involved
Össur is made up of passionate, ambitious people eager to help those who live with disabilities. Our corporate motto, Life Without Limitations, is much more than a marketing slogan. It is a vision that we share as a dedicated and caring organization.
We believe that as a leading orthotic and prosthetic manufacturer, it is our responsibility and privilege to support our industry and to serve patients and practitioners in every way we can. In fulfilling this mission, we believe it is our obligation not only to provide world-class products, but also to support those who rely on them.
We know that we cannot achieve these objectives by ourselves, therefore we supplement our own efforts by supporting people who are experts at helping amputees and educating practitioners. We partner with a great variety of both large and small organizations and continually explore opportunities for additional partnerships.
A World of Opportunity: Networking , Connecting, Succeeding.
Beyond the innovations, the science, and the high-tech mechanics of returning you to a fitness level you are comfortable with, there is a whole other part of you we’re here to nurture. Through connections with amazing organizations and peer groups, you can meet and play with people who also share your love for sports, fitness, new challenges, social opportunities —you name it and we’ll help you find it.
Your success is our Goal!
Amputee Coalition of America (ACA)
Education is equally as important as athleticism when it comes to pursuing a Life Without Limitations®. Which is why Össur supports the efforts of the ACA, a national non-profit formed in 1989 to offer continued education, mentoring, peer support and consumer advocacy. Össur and the ACA are actively involved in the Parity initiative, a nationwide campaign to ensure that insurance carriers provide necessary medical coverage for amputees. Together, the ACA and Össur offer the tools necessary to make educated decisions about your own care and goals. You take it from there; the opportunities are limitless. For more information on ACA visit: www.amputee-coalition.org
Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF)
World-class sprinter, first-time triathlete, competitive cyclist, marathon runner—the partnership of Challenged Athletes Foundation and Össur has helped amputees add these remarkable titles to their resumes. Through grants, training, prosthetics, and equipment needs, the sole partnership opens doors every day for athletic greatness. No matter your physical challenge, age, sport, level or ability, if your goal is to get out there and challenge yourself, Össur, CAF and the hundreds of active amputees already pursuing athletic dreams are here to cheer you across the finish line.
- Visit CAF website for more information (opens in a new window)
Össur Sponsored Events
Össur sponsors a number of workshops throughout the United States that offer a hands-on opportunity for amputees, physical therapists and prosthetists to improve prosthetic skills. These groundbreaking workshops were created and are run by Bob Gailey, PhD, PT. Through fun activities and exercises, amputees learn how to improve their balance, walking pattern and get more function from their prosthesis.
Professionals get an opportunity to improve their clinical skills by working with amputees to assess their abilities and assist them with exercises. It is also a chance to explore the latest prosthetic technology from Össur. This free one-of-a-kind workshop series, is a part of Össur's commitment to ensuring a Life Without Limitations for all amputees.
Common Terms
Being familiar with some of the commonly used terms in the discussion and literature on amputation is quite helpful. This is a basic list of terms and you can add to it by sending us any words you are not familiar with and would like to see included on the list.
| Word | Explanation |
| AK | Above the knee |
| AFO | Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| Alignment | Position of a prosthetic socket in relation to foot and knee |
| Amputation | Removal of all or part of a limb due to infection, injury, tumor, disease or trauma |
| Amputee | A person who has had all or part of a limb removed/amputated or is born without a limb |
| Traumatic amputation | A spontaneous removal of a limb for example as a result of an accident |
| Bilateral | Bi means both, meaning both sides. |
| BE | Below elbow - Trans Radial |
| BK | Below the knee - Trans Tibial |
| Cadence | Walking speed |
| Congenital limb deficiency | When all or parts of limb/s do not develop normally in the womb or are missing |
| CPO | Certified prosthetist and orthotist (also known as CO - CP - CPOT) |
| Disarticulation |
Limb is amputated through the joint |
| Distal |
Located at a distance away from the point of origin |
| Doffing | Taking the prosthesis off |
| Donning | Putting the prosthesis on |
| ECG | Electro-Cardiograph, recording of the electrical activity of the heart |
| Edema | Swelling of the tissues (also spelt oedema) |
| Endo | Inside |
| Exo | Outside |
| FO | Foot Orthosis |
| Gait training | Learning to walk with a prosthesis |
| HKAFO | Hip Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| HO | Hip Orthosis |
| Interface | Inner surface of socket |
| KAFO | Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| KO | Knee Orthosis |
| Liner | Soft socket rolled over the stump used for protection, comfort and in some cases as a suspension |
| Lower extremity | Lower limb |
| Occupational therapy | Training to maximise independance in daily life |
| PPAM | Pneumatic Post Amputation Mobility Aid is an inflatable device (not a prosthesis) that is used in the UK by physiotherapists as part of the rehabilitation programme prior to prosthetic rehabilitation. |
| Patella | Kneecap |
| Peripheral vascular disease | Disease of the blood vessels from a variety of causes |
| Phantom pain | Painful feeling in the part of the extremity that has been amputated |
| Phantom sensation | Awareness of the amputated limb although not described as pain |
| Phantom limb | Sensation of the presence of the limb that has been amputated |
| Physical therapy | Theraputic exercises in order to treat a disease or a disability |
| Pistoning | When a liner stretches so that the stump elongates |
| Prosthesis | A fabricated/artificial substitue for a body part that is missing |
| Prosthetist | Someone who specializes in designing, fitting and making artificial limbs |
| Proximal | Located at a distance near the point of origin |
| Residual limb | The remaining part of the limb after amputation (the stump) |
| Socket | The part of the prosthesis (artificial limb) that fits around the residual limb |
| Suction socket | A socket on an artificial leg that is held to the residual limb by the suction of negative pressure maintained within the socket |
| Transradial | Amputation below the elbow |
| Transfemoral (TF) | Amputation above the knee |
| Transmetasatal (TM) | Amputation through junction of toe and foot bones |
| Transtibial (TT) | Amputation below the knee |
| Transhumeral | Amputation above the elbow |
| Upper extremity | Upper limb |
| Total contact | Total contact between the limb and socket at all points |
| Vascular Amputation | Amputation surgery perfomed as a result of impaired circulation of blood through the blood vessels of the limb |
| Voluntary control | The ability of the user to control mechanical elements of the prosthesis i.e. control over motion in the knee, ankle, or foot. |
Send us word(s) you would like included:
webmaster@ossur.com