Why Participate in Research?
Research is a cornerstone of the Limb Restoration Program’s clinical mission. By integrating patient-centered research directly into clinical care, the program advances evidence-based treatment for bone-anchored prosthetic limbs, focusing on mobility, comfort, safety, and long-term quality of life. Ongoing studies in osseointegration outcomes, gait biomechanics, rehabilitation, pain, and prosthetic performance allow patients to actively contribute to improving current and future care for people living with limb loss.
Our researchers in the Bone-Anchored Limb Research Group have had the pleasure of working with our patients to demonstrate numerous benefits of bone-anchored limbs, including:
- Improvements in balance and balance confidence with transfemoral bone-anchored limbs
(Gaffney et al, Gait & Posture, 2023)
- Reduced prosthesis donning time, as measured by the Colorado Limb Donning–Timed Up and Go (COLD-TUG) test
(Awad et al, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2025)
- Reductions in residual limb pain and associated improvements in pain-related quality-of-life one year after osseointegration
(Shaw and Awad et al, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2025)
- Reduced asymmetry between amputated and intact limbs during walking, particularly in hip and knee loading, without compromising gait speed or stride length
(Tracy et al. Journal of Biomechanics, 2025)
- Greater joint loading symmetry during sit-to-stand transitions with transfemoral bone-anchored limbs
(Thomsen-Freitas et al, Clinical Biomechanics, 2025)
Participation in research helps refine surgical techniques, optimize rehabilitation protocols, and guide innovation in prosthetic technology—transforming real-world experiences with bone-anchored limbs into meaningful clinical advances. For patients seeking to engage in osseointegration research, the Limb Restoration Program offers a unique, collaborative environment where research participation directly supports better care, better movement, and better lives for the amputee community.
