Improving walking for Veterans with non‑traumatic leg amputation
Official title: Optimizing Gait Rehabilitation for Veterans with Non-Traumatic Lower Limb Amputation
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-11249121 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A rehabilitation program aims to help Veterans with non‑traumatic lower‑limb amputation walk more evenly and reduce disability.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | November 1, 2019 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003237-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249121 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with non‑traumatic lower‑limb amputation (for example related to diabetes or peripheral artery disease) who use or are candidates for a prosthesis and have noticeable walking asymmetry are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with traumatic amputations, uncontrolled medical issues or wounds that prevent participation, or those who do not use a prosthesis may not gain benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
You would work with therapists who focus on making your walking pattern more balanced after a non‑traumatic leg amputation (often due to diabetes or poor circulation). The team uses gait analysis and tailored prosthetic and rehabilitation strategies to target asymmetry that can cause back pain, joint wear, poor stamina, and skin problems on the residual limb. The plan is delivered in clinic sessions and may include adjustments to your prosthesis, exercises, and walking training based on your specific needs. The goal is practical: improve everyday walking, reduce complications, and help you stay more active and independent.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help Veterans walk more evenly, lower pain and fatigue, and reduce long‑term complications like back pain and skin breakdown.
How similar studies have gone: Past rehabilitation and prosthetic adjustment programs have improved gait in some amputees, but persistent asymmetry in Veterans with non‑traumatic amputations remains a common unresolved issue.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christiansen, Cory L — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Christiansen, Cory L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving walking ability for veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation
This study is looking to help veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputations, like those caused by diabetes, walk more evenly and comfortably, so they can enjoy a better quality of life and avoid further health problems.
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A study with adults who’ve had a lower-leg amputation will look at how spinal muscle weakness and fat in the back muscles relate to mobility, with the aim of guiding rehabilitation choices.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.