The socket is a crucial component for lower limb amputees, significantly influencing comfort, fit, and overall prosthesis function. Current clinical approaches to managing socket fit and suspension issues primarily rely on patient feedback and visual inspections during clinic visits. This system leaves gaps between appointments, offering no continuous record of changes in the residual limb, which could provide valuable insights.
Although tools for monitoring the residual limb exist—from traditional methods to modern smartphones—there is still no real-time system to support self-management and enhance clinical care. Advances in digital applications present opportunities for patients to monitor and document changes at home, capturing critical information that can help prosthetists refine socket adjustments.
In this symposium, we will explore various approaches to residual limb monitoring. This will include a breakdown of key factors to track (shape, comfort etc…), the frequency of monitoring, how data can be stored, and how to ensure the information is valuable for prosthetists in their daily tasks of designing and adjusting sockets. We'll discuss state-of-the-art, user-friendly, and affordable systems that allow for continuous monitoring, including a new app designed to empower users to record their residual limb conditions.
The session will feature perspectives from technology experts, prosthetists, and patients, providing a comprehensive look at how modern monitoring tools can bridge the gap between clinical visits and improve prosthetic care through enhanced data collection and patient engagement. Insights from patient and public involvement (PPI) activities will also be included, offering a deeper understanding of user experiences and needs.
Statement of the objective / learning objectives
Attendees will learn how to combine the latest technologies available to gather information about the residual limb over time, what are the key elements to record for the benefits of the patients and the clinicians.
