Evidence-Based Amputee Rehabilitation: a Systematic Approach to the Restoration of Function in People with Lower Limb Loss

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this review is to illustrate how existing outcome measures and clinical models can be applied to outline an evidence-based rehabilitation program for people with lower limb loss (LLL). The use of outcome measures in rehabilitation in addition to providing a numeric value of a person’s rehabilitation status can identify patient-specific functional impairments, activity limitations, establish treatment goals, guide targeted treatment interventions, detect change over time, and classify patients and with some populations develop predictive models. Recent Findings: The model for the rehabilitation of people with LLL is based on the Evidence-Based Amputee Rehabilitation program that uses outcome measures to identify patient-specific impairments and limitations, set realistic goals, and track change over time. Summary: The standardized use of outcome measures and evidence-based patient care can be used to help guide best practices for post-amputation rehabilitation and prosthetic interventions, and care over the life span for people with LLL.