Mobility Care
30 million American adults live with mobility disabilities
Losing a Limb doesn't mean Losing Your Future
5.6 million Americans have limb loss or limb difference
1.7 million Americans use a prosthetic limb
Less than 50% of all amputees ever receive a prosthetic device
Gaps in Basic Care
Many Medicare patients with limb loss are unable to receive a prosthesis
Coverage gaps, state policy differences, and out-of-pocket costs leave many patients without a viable path to care.In the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid, many low-income adults have no financial path to a prosthesis at all.
The Costs of Going Without
Depression and anxiety affect ~35% of amputees – 5X higher than general population
People lose far more than a limbMobility affects work, independence, family life, physical and mental health. People who regain mobility are more likely to return to work, maintain their health, and stay connected to family and community.
The Work
Making the case for access
Funding clinical research that quantifies what prosthetic care produces, in restored function, independence, employment, mental health, and lives extended. That evidence builds the case for policy change, expanded coverage, and the systemic investment this population deserves.The Impact
▸ Regaining mobility is one of the strongest predictors of quality of life and long-term survival for amputees. People who receive and use a prosthesis live longer, stay healthier, and report dramatically better mental and physical health than those who go without. ▸ About two thirds of people return to work after amputation when they receive proper rehabilitation and a working prosthetic device, helping break the cycle of disability, poverty, and declining health.
When Mobility Suffers, Daily Life Changes
Mobility loss is closely linked to depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Access to orthotic care helps people regain independence, stay connected, and improve overall physical and mental health.
Millions of people need an orthosis
Millions never get one
Ankle-foot orthoses, spinal supports, knee orthoses, therapeutic footwear - these devices keep people mobile, independent, and out of the hospital.
Millions of people need an orthosis
Millions never get one
Ankle-foot orthoses, spinal supports, knee orthoses, therapeutic footwear - these devices keep people mobile, independent, and out of the hospital.
The Work
Building the evidence base
Training the people who deliver care
Supporting the clinicians who evaluate, fit, and follow patients; from residency programs to advanced training on complex populations like children, stroke survivors, and people living with diabetes. The better trained the provider, the better the outcome for the patient.
Funding clinical research that helps determine what works, for whom, and under what conditions, giving patients access to better care, helping clinicians make informed decisions, and providing the evidence needed to improve insurance coverage and support when it matters most.
Training the people who deliver care
Supporting the clinicians who evaluate, fit, and follow patients; from residency programs to advanced training on complex populations like children, stroke survivors, and people living with diabetes. The better trained the provider, the better the outcome for the patient.
The Impact
▸ When patients receive a high-quality orthoses and proper clinical support, patients will consistently use their devices six or seven days a week.
Devices work when systems around them work
▸ Research investment becomes policy when we can demonstrate outcomes, payers have to respond, and more coverage means more people get care.
Devices work when systems around them work
▸ Research investment becomes policy when we can demonstrate outcomes, payers have to respond, and more coverage means more people get care.
Everything Else Depends on Them
All the devices in the world can't help someone who lives three counties from the nearest qualified provider.
Less than 8,000 certified clinicians in the U.S. for the tens of millions who need their care
The field is growing, projected to increase 13% by 2034, driven by an aging population, rising diabetes and cardiovascular disease rates. But the gap between supply and demand is widening faster than the pipeline can fill it.
Less than 8,000 certified clinicians in the U.S. for the tens of millions who need their care
The field is growing, projected to increase 13% by 2034, driven by an aging population, rising diabetes and cardiovascular disease rates. But the gap between supply and demand is widening faster than the pipeline can fill it.
The Evidence Base is Still Catching Up
Prosthetics, orthotics, and pedorthics is a relatively young clinical field when it comes to outcomes research.
The tools needed to measure whether a device is working for a patient have only recently been developed.
Without a strong research foundation, even the best clinical care struggles to demonstrate its value to insurers and policymakers. The result is a field where the clinical expertise exists, but the infrastructure to drive coverage and scale it hasn't fully been built.
The tools needed to measure whether a device is working for a patient have only recently been developed.
Without a strong research foundation, even the best clinical care struggles to demonstrate its value to insurers and policymakers. The result is a field where the clinical expertise exists, but the infrastructure to drive coverage and scale it hasn't fully been built.
The Work
Supporting the workforce pipeline
Supporting education and training to help more skilled mobility care clinicians enter the field, especially in underserved communities where access to qualified providers is limited.
Funding research to drive change
We support patient centered research that translates outcomes into policy. When research shows that prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic care extends lives and reduces hospitalizations, insurers have to pay attention. When it shows that wearing a prosthesis or an orthosis restores employment and reduces depression, legislators have a reason to act.
Supporting education and training to help more skilled mobility care clinicians enter the field, especially in underserved communities where access to qualified providers is limited.
Funding research to drive change
We support patient centered research that translates outcomes into policy. When research shows that prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic care extends lives and reduces hospitalizations, insurers have to pay attention. When it shows that wearing a prosthesis or an orthosis restores employment and reduces depression, legislators have a reason to act.
The Impact
▸ Each clinician trained and placed in a rural or underserved community serves hundreds of patients a year who had no viable option before.
Workforce investment has a direct, measurable multiplier on access.
1 clinician= 100s of patients a year
+ 1 care extender= 1000s more
▸ Research that demonstrates the value of mobility care builds the case for insurance parity laws, Medicaid expansion, and VA system improvements.
Workforce investment has a direct, measurable multiplier on access.
1 clinician= 100s of patients a year
+ 1 care extender= 1000s more
▸ Research that demonstrates the value of mobility care builds the case for insurance parity laws, Medicaid expansion, and VA system improvements.
