April marks Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, an initiative established by the Amputee Coalition to raise awareness and support millions living with these conditions. As healthcare professionals seek to enhance their skills in this specialised area, Physiopedia Plus (Plus) is proud to introduce our exceptional instructors whose expertise supports rehabilitation practice for individuals with limb loss.
Our online courses bring together specialist knowledge from leaders in the field who combine extensive clinical experience with academic excellence. These courses are already making a significant impact on clinical practice worldwide, with practitioners reporting improved assessment capabilities, more effective treatment strategies, and better patient outcomes.
With more than 15 years of teaching and research experience, Dr. Vibhor Agrawal (Phd, MSc, BE) brings his expertise as an Associate Professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (Miami Campus) and certified Assistive Technology Professional to Plus. His course, Optimising Prosthetic Gait Analysis in Individuals with Amputation, takes the guesswork out of observational gait assessment for patients with lower-limb amputations.
Among our distinguished faculty is also Inger Brueckner (MSc PT, BSc), who brings her extensive clinical and research experience from various facilities, including Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center and Sky Ridge Medical Center to Plus. Her expertise spans multiple rehabilitation domains, with a particular focus on amputee rehabilitation. Inger leads two essential courses, namely Phantom Limb Pain Overview and Phantom Limb Pain Management.
Adding to our list of experts is Dr Alicia White (DPT), whose unique background combines academic excellence with ten years of clinical experience at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, where she treated high-level patients with amputations in both military and civilian sectors. Her course Considerations in the Management of Amputations and Burns draws on her extensive experience, including her work as the South Texas Paralympic Track Coach and Amputation Rehabilitation Coordinator at the South Texas VA Hospital.
While rehabilitation excellence remains essential, prevention represents the most effective strategy in addressing limb loss. The economic and psychological impacts of preventable limb loss are profound. Research shows that comprehensive preventative care programmes can reduce amputation rates by up to 85% in high-risk populations.
Plus recognises this crucial aspect through specialised courses focused on preventative care, particularly for high-risk populations. Diane Merwarth (BS PT, BS Biol) brings her exceptional wound care and prevention expertise to our platform. With decades of clinical experience and impressive credentials, including a Certified Wound Specialist certification and a post-graduate certificate in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair from Cardiff University, Diane’s courses offer vital knowledge for practitioners working with at-risk patients. Her series on foot neuropathies, including Introduction to Foot Neuropathy, Assessment of Foot Neuropathies and Intervention Considerations for Foot Neuropathies provides healthcare professionals with essential skills for early identification and management of conditions that can lead to limb loss.
This Limb Loss Awareness Month, take the opportunity to enhance your expertise through these courses that combine theoretical knowledge with practical applications to transform patient care outcomes. Healthcare professionals interested in expanding their skills in limb loss management can access these courses and the comprehensive Lower Limb Amputee Rehabilitation Programme as part of a Plus subscription, joining thousands of practitioners worldwide who are already implementing these evidence-based approaches in their daily practice.
This article was written by one of our course instructors...
Tarina van der Stockt
PT (BphysT), DPT
Education Director Physiopedia Plus