Prosthetics and the Amputee Athlete

Most problems in the amputee athlete arise where the body meets the prosthesis: the skin of the residual limb, socket fit, pain and overuse from altered loading.

Limb loss may be acquired, through trauma or disease, or a limb deficiency may be congenital, and the level and cause shape what the athlete can do and what goes wrong. The engineering of the limb is the prosthetist's domain; for the sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinician, recognising problems early and knowing when to involve the prosthetist or a limb-fitting centre keeps the athlete training.