Amputee Rehabilitation

George Washington University Hospital’s comprehensive amputee rehabilitation program provides patients with pre-prosthetic training, prosthetic training, and limb preservation after upper and/or lower extremity amputations. Our amputee program is interdisciplinary, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, prosthetists, orthotists, wound care providers, and doctors of physical medicine and rehabilitation.  

Our team works with patients who have experienced limb loss due to:

• Trauma
• Diabetes
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Infection
• Tumor
• Conditions present at birth

Goals of the Amputee Program

The main goal of our program is to help every patient return to their highest level of function, including community re-integration and independence. We do this by helping patients:

• Learn how to care for residual limb and use of prosthesis for everyday activities
• Put on and take off their prosthesis, and manage all other components of prosthesis
• Learn techniques to address phantom pain and sensations
• Address limb optimization of non-residual limb
• Create a patient-specific home exercise program
• Strengthen balance and coordination for optimal functional mobility
• Connect with a peer visitor who has experienced limb loss
• Participate in our Amputee Support Group. Meet with other members of the limb loss community for support, conversation, and resources. Our Amputee Support Group meets monthly on the last Thursday of each month from 1 – 2 pm at our Outpatient Rehab Clinic at 2131 K St. NW on the 5th floor. We also offer a virtual option as well. Please contact gwuhamputeesupport@gwu-hospital.com to get on our mailing list for the virtual invite or call 202-375-7682.

Our outpatient amputee rehabilitation promotes seamless continuum of care with GW Hospital’s inpatient acute care, acute rehabilitation units, Limb Optimization Clinic, and Amputee Support Group. We are also a hospital-partner with the Amputee Coalition.