Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month
Enter to win the giveaway!
It’s our favorite time of the year - Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month! Join us as we illuminate the strength of our community during April, a time dedicated to celebrating the remarkable individuals in the community we are endlessly honored and thankful to serve.
Recent findings reveal that over 5.6 million Americans are on their limb loss or limb difference journey, encompassing diverse backgrounds, genders, races, ages, and more.
While every day at Ottobock is dedicated to this community, April gives us a chance to let the passion that is baked into our DNA truly shine. This year, we are emphasizing #FreedomOfMovement and what that means to each individual touched by Limb Loss or Limb Difference.
Enter to win!
In celebration of LLLDAM, we’re giving you the chance to win an unforgettable trip to one of Ottobock’s Running Clinics or Mobility Events! Whether you’re looking to take your first steps toward adaptive running or want to move with more confidence in everyday life, these events are designed to empower, educate, and connect individuals of all abilities.
At our Running Clinics, world-class coaches and prosthetists provide expert guidance to help high mobility prosthetic users improve their technique, gain confidence, and experience the freedom of movement. Meanwhile, our Full Circle Movement Events are open to all ages and abilities, and offer hands-on learning, community support, and innovative solutions for those seeking to enhance their mobility.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity! Click below to learn more and enter for your chance to win a spot at one of these inspiring events.
What is LLLDAM?
LLLDAM stands for Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, started by the Amputee Coalition 14 years ago. April is designated as the month to raise awareness on limb loss and limb difference, using the color orange to represent the topic.
What's the difference?
Limb Loss: The loss of a limb. Amputation: the action of surgically cutting off a limb.
Limb Difference: The partial or complete absence of or malfunction of limbs (arms and legs).
What causes limb difference?
There are many different causes of congenital limb differences – some are genetic, some are due to environmental or pharmaceutical factors, others may be because of an isolated issue or syndrome occurring during fetal development. Often there is no known cause for a congenital difference.
How can we prevent limb loss?
Considering that the leading cause of amputations is due to vascular disease, the key to preventing amputation is to identify the risk factors. The leading cause of amputation is due to vascular disease like diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. Prevent vascular disease by eating a healthier diet and engaging in physical activity to maintain a healthy weight and keep blood pressure down. For those with vascular conditions, injury prevention and wound management is critical to avoid amputation.
What causes limb difference?
There are many different causes of congenital limb differences – some are genetic, some are due to environmental or pharmaceutical factors, others may be because of an isolated issue or syndrome occurring during fetal development. Often there is no known cause for a congenital difference.
How can we prevent limb loss?
Considering that the leading cause of amputations is due to vascular disease, the key to preventing amputation is to identify the risk factors. The leading cause of amputation is due to vascular disease like diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. Prevent vascular disease by eating a healthier diet and engaging in physical activity to maintain a healthy weight and keep blood pressure down. For those with vascular conditions, injury prevention and wound management is critical to avoid amputation.
Full Circle Movement Mobility Clinic
Together, we thrive off of community — especially efforts surrounding healing and movement. That’s why we are showing our commitment to #FreedomOfMovement through running and mobility clinics. Built for any level of mobility with any level of skill, Full Circle Movement is to help everyone move, finding freedom and confidence to add movement to their healing journey.
Running Clinics
Our Running Clinics are three-day events, designed for high mobility prosthetic users. Attendees can bring their own blade or get fit with an Ottobock cutting-edge running prosthesis. Runners will work with expert coaches and Certified Prosthetists and Orthotists (CPOs), and get advice an suggestions to improve their running form.
More Events
April 26, 2025 | San Antonio, TX at Heroes Stadium | Full Circle Movement with Texas Parasport Games
May 29, 2025 | Tempe, AZ at Desert Challenge Games | Full Circle Movement with Arizona Disabled Sports
June 28, 2025 | Norwalk, CA at Angel City Games | Full Circle Movement with Angel City Sports
July 2025 | Long Island, NY | Full Circle Movement
October 2025 | Ypsilanti, MI at Eastern Michigan University | Full Circle Movement with the Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics Program
November 2025 | TBD | Running Clinic
Ways Ottobock is Celebrating LLLDAM
We never shy away from a reason to celebrate the limb difference community! From hosting local events to sharing stories, Ottobock leverages every opportunity to shine a light on limb loss and limb difference.
Legislative Support
On Wednesday, April 16, Ottobock North America joined forces with Hanger and members of the O&P community at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Together, we brought over 120 participants from across Texas and reached all 180 legislative offices to advocate for two critical bills that directly impact individuals who rely on prosthetic and orthotic care.
Spreading Awareness to Toronto
We partnered with the City of Toronto to light up the city's sign orange in hopes of sparking the conversation on limb difference and limb awareness while showing support for the community.
Capitol Meet-Up
We asked the local Orthotics & Prosthetics community to come together at the Texas Capitol to raise awareness for current legislation affecting limb loss and limb difference patients. We'll be there on April 16 to raise our voices!
Attending Statesman Capitol 10,000 in Austin, Texas
To represent and advocate for the limb loss and limb difference community, Ottobock employees decked out in orange attire while participating in the Statesman Capitol 10,000 in Austin, Texas.
Wearing Orange
Scott Sabolich Ottobock.care, which joined Ottobock Patient Care in 2019, supports Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month by raising awareness by wearing orange ribbons throughout their clinics.
#LLLDAM Orange Spirit Contest
Our North American headquarters in Austin, Texas, hosted an Orange Spirit Contest to help spread awareness on limb difference and limb loss.
Our mission at Ottobock has always been to help people maintain and regain their freedom of movement. Starting this LLLDAM, we are turning up the noise on advocacy efforts to ensure as many people as possible can have access to the prosthetic and orthotic components to help them find confidence and healing in movement.
To support these efforts, we are aligning with the following organizations across the U.S. to push the 28 by 28 movement: An effort to enact legislation expanding coverage for orthotic and prosthetic care in 28 states by the Los Angeles Paralympics Games in 2028.
Stephanie HornerIn an odd and unique way, limb loss has led me to where I am today. When I was a child, my father was in a bad motorcycle accident. After many failed attempts to salvage his leg, they decided to amputate. I watched go through the highs and lows of accepting his new life as an amputee. His struggles encouraged me to join the field and make it my mission to serve the amputee community. I am beyond thankful to work in the prosthetic industry and for a company that strives to better the lives of those with limb loss / limb differences."
Rebecca BouwmanOur cat, Blue, fell down a window well one summer and we were pretty sure he broke his leg. Once at the vet, we found out that he also had hip dysplasia. After surgery, we were told there was a good chance he would experience issues later on in life. Later came rather quickly, when a year after the surgery, Blue fell down a flight of stairs and broke his leg again. The vet tried to cast him for several weeks, after which we found out his leg wasn't healing at all. We were given the option to do another expensive surgery or amputation. Definitely not an easy decision, but the vet said he would be just fine on three legs plus there would be a good chance he would continue to have issues with his leg if we did not amputate. The first few weeks after surgery were a bit rough, but Blue is now living his best life running and jumping around even better than he was before. I had just started working at Ottobock when all this happened and although Blue is a cat and does not use a prosthetic, it made me realize even more how much of an impact we have with what we do here at Ottobock!"
