“The medical and prosthetic fields are changing at an astonishing rate,” we wrote in January 2015, announcing the upcoming publication of Amplitude’s first issue.
Culture, public policy, and consumer technology were evolving rapidly, too, with big implications for amputees. “Unfortunately, there is still a significant lack of amputation-related information available,” we wrote. “We will strive to change that.”
Things are moving as fast as ever in 2025, and we’re still keeping you up to speed. Here are ten of the most impactful changes we’ve covered in Amplitude’s first 10 years.
- 3D-printed prosthetic devices migrated from DIY makerspaces into O&P clinics.
- Osseointegration grew from a far-out experiment into an FDA-approved procedure.
- Direct-to-consumer prosthetic companies brought affordable options into the marketplace.
- Amputee storytellers and image makers brought new narratives to entertainment, advertising, and social media.
- More than a dozen states enacted insurance reform laws to increase access to prosthetic devices.
- Holistic, team-based limb care models gained traction, leading to improved outcomes.
- Alternative medicines for pain, anxiety, and depression became legal in nearly every state.
- Surgical innovations such as AMI and TMR paved the way for enhanced prosthetic control and sensory feedback.
- Global manufacturers absorbed independent O&P clinics, standardizing care but reducing consumer choice.
- The citizens of Amputee Nation kept doing important, amazing things for Amplitude to write about.
