Retired orthotist Robert Rhodes suggests using medical ethics as a guideline to address professional burnout in the orthotics and prosthetics field. Rhodes reflects on an article that suggests the need to change outdated models of success that lead to "a culture of silent suffering."

Diving deeper: Rhodes explores examples from his career of three modes of thinking about care that lead to harm: self-sacrifice, service at all costs and toxic independence.

The takeaway: "Three principles of medical ethics are first, do no harm -- and this includes not harming oneself -- do good, and allow autonomy. If clinicians, owners, and managers applied these to themselves and to others, I think that the potential for burnout would be lessened if not eliminated," Rhodes writes.

A study of individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputations found that their gait deviates from that of people without amputations, with shorter step lengths and longer stance phases on the intact limb. Researchers found that a reliable assessment of gait could be made with a minimum of 10 consecutive steps per limb.

Researchers examined the perceptions and performance of transtibial prosthetic covers from the perspectives of users, clinicians and technicians. Users prioritized enhanced durability, functionality and aesthetics in covers that reflect their personal narratives, while professionals focused on production issues such as durability and ease of adjustment.

A team from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., traveled to Guatemala and helped 25 patients receive 30 prosthetic legs through the Range of Motion Project. "If we can make a slight dent in their 1,000-person wait list, it's an honor to do so," physical therapist Lauren Jones says.

Proteor is collaborating with TrainAI, One World Strong and Unbroken Ukraine to enhance access to prosthetic care for Ukrainians who have lost limbs during the war. The initiative will bring 3D-printing systems to rehabilitation centers, allowing on-site production of prosthetic components to streamline care.

Ohio state Reps. Dontavius Jarrells and Jean Schmidt are drafting a bill that would require private health insurance companies to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices that are deemed medically necessary by a physician. The bill aims to improve the quality of life for about 250,000 residents by providing devices that offer greater mobility and functionality. The legislation is modeled after the So Every Body Can Move initiative, which has passed in other states without significantly increasing insurance costs according to Jarrells.