Artificial limb assessment and fitting (Prosthetic assessment and fitting)
An assessment by a specialist team to work out whether an artificial limb is right for you and, if so, to design, fit and fine-tune one to suit your body and your goals.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- The assessment decides whether an artificial limb suits you, and what kind; a limb is not automatically the best option for everyone.
- A usable prosthesis is built up over several fittings and adjustments, not delivered ready-made in one visit.
- NHS limb-fitting centres provide assessment, the prosthesis, rehabilitation and lifelong maintenance — you should not be told you have to pay privately to get a limb.
- Realistic goals matter: the right device depends on your health, balance, energy and the life you want to lead, not on the most advanced technology available.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.
Can restore useful function and independence for everyday tasks
Circulation, heart, lung or general health that makes the effort of using a limb unsafe or exhausting.
You agree a plan and whether a prosthesis suits you. If your residual limb is still healing or swollen, fitting may be delayed until it settles.
A named consultant and prosthetist responsible for your care.
You agree a plan and whether a prosthesis suits you. If your residual limb is still healing or swollen, fitting...
A test socket is made and adjusted. Expect to come back more than once to get comfort and fit right before the...
You start learning to put on, balance with and use the limb, usually with a physiotherapist. Sessions build up...
Your residual limb often changes shape as swelling settles, so the socket may need refitting. Skin is checked...
What is artificial limb (prosthetic) assessment and fitting?
Prosthetic assessment and fitting is the process of working out whether an artificial limb (a prosthesis) would help you after losing a limb, and if so, designing, building and adjusting one to fit your body and the way you want to live.
It is not a single appointment. A specialist team looks at your remaining limb, your general health, your strength and balance, your home and your goals. They then decide with you what kind of limb — if any — is likely to help. A prosthesis is made and fitted, and is usually adjusted several times before it feels right.
An artificial limb is not right for everyone. Using one takes effort, balance and energy, and some people get around more safely and comfortably with a wheelchair, or with a wheelchair for some situations and a limb for others. A good service is honest about this and matches the device to the person, not the other way round.
The aim is realistic, useful function — being able to do the things that matter to you — rather than a limb that simply looks complete.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Prosthesis or wheelchair?
| Point | Artificial limb | Wheelchair |
|---|---|---|
| Energy needed | Often higher, especially above the knee | Lower |
| Balance and falls | Needs balance; learning curve | Generally more stable |
| Many people use | For some tasks or all day | For some tasks or all day |
| Not either/or | Many people use both at different times | Many people use both at different times |
This is not a competition. Many people use a limb for some situations and a wheelchair for others. Your team should help you choose what is safest and most useful for you.
Preparing for your test
- Be ready to talk about your goals — walking outdoors, returning to work, driving, sport, or simply moving safely around the house.
- Bring a list of your medical conditions and all your medicines; circulation, diabetes, heart and lung health all affect what is realistic.
- Mention any pain in the residual limb, phantom pain, or skin problems, as these affect fitting and timing.
- Think about your home and daily routine — stairs, transport, who helps you — so the team can plan around real life.
- If you already use a wheelchair or walking aid, bring it, and say what works and what doesn't.
- Ask a family member or carer to come if that helps; appointments cover a lot of ground.
- It is fine to say you are unsure about wanting a prosthesis at all — that is a normal part of the discussion.
What happens
At the first assessment you usually meet a multidisciplinary team, which may include a rehabilitation consultant, a prosthetist (the specialist who designs and builds the limb), a physiotherapist and sometimes a nurse, occupational therapist or psychologist. They examine your residual limb, check its healing, shape and skin, and assess your strength, balance and general health.
Together you agree what you want to achieve and whether a prosthesis is likely to help. If it is, the prosthetist takes measurements or a cast of your residual limb to make a socket. You will usually try a test (check) socket first, and it is adjusted until it fits well.
A prosthesis is then built and you start learning to use it with the physiotherapy team. Expect several visits for adjustments. Comfort, skin checks and the way you move are reviewed and fine-tuned over time.
Is this test right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Circulation, heart, lung or general health that makes the effort of using a limb unsafe or exhausting.
- A residual limb that is not yet healed, is painful, or keeps changing shape too much to fit.
- Significant balance, cognitive or skin problems that make safe limb use unlikely.
- Someone whose goals are better met by a wheelchair, where a prosthesis would add risk without benefit.
Delay or rearrange if…
- The residual limb is still healing, swollen or has an open wound.
- There is skin breakdown, infection or uncontrolled pain in the limb.
- Your general health is unstable and needs sorting first.
- You feel unsure or unready, and want more time or information before deciding.
Alternatives to discuss
- A wheelchair, used instead of or alongside a prosthesis.
- A cosmetic-only limb where function is not the goal.
- Walking aids and home adaptations for some people.
- Choosing not to use a prosthesis, with full support either way.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- Can restore useful function and independence for everyday tasks
- Can support walking, standing or hand use depending on the limb
- Lets the device be matched to your own goals and abilities
- Includes rehabilitation so you learn to use the limb safely
- Can improve confidence and, where wanted, appearance
- Gives access to ongoing maintenance, repairs and review as your needs change
Risks & complications
- Skin soreness, rubbing or pressure marks where the socket fits
- Sweating, heat and minor skin irritation inside the socket
- The first socket not fitting perfectly, needing adjustment
- Tiredness and slow progress while learning to use the limb
- Blisters, skin breakdown or persistent pain that delays use
- Difficulty achieving comfortable walking, especially above the knee
- Needing to change to a different design or component
- Finding the limb too tiring and choosing to use it less than hoped
- Serious skin or wound problems on the residual limb
- Falls and injury while learning to walk with a new limb
- Deciding a prosthesis is not the right option after all
The biggest issues are usually comfort and fit, not danger. Socket fit can change as your residual limb settles and changes shape, especially in the first months, so expect adjustments. Tell the team early about any pain, rubbing or skin marks — small problems are easier to fix than blisters or wounds. Ask honestly about how much energy and balance using the limb will take for someone in your situation.
Published figures to discuss
There are no meaningful single 'success' or complication percentages for prosthetic assessment and fitting, because outcomes depend heavily on the amputation level, your health, your goals and how your residual limb settles. Reputable sources describe outcomes in terms of function and comfort rather than fixed rates, and stress that a prosthesis is not suitable for everyone. We therefore describe risks in plain words rather than quoting numbers.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socket discomfort or skin breakdown | Common fitting issue | Residual-limb volume changes, scars, sweating and reduced sensation make follow-up adjustments important. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Falls during prosthetic use | Recognised | Gait training, balance work, appropriate components and home/environment review reduce risk. | NHS — Amputationnhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Prosthesis does not meet functional goals | Patient- and limb-dependent | Level of amputation, cardiovascular fitness, cognition, pain and home/work needs affect realistic prescription. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Contralateral limb overload | Common long-term issue | The intact limb, back and shoulders may be stressed and should be protected through gait and strength work. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no operation here, so 'afterwards' means the rehabilitation journey: learning to use the limb, getting the fit right, and building up what you can do over weeks and months.
- Some rubbing, redness or pressure marks while the socket is being adjusted
- Tiredness and slower-than-hoped progress in the early weeks
- Needing several appointments before the fit feels right
- Changes in the shape of the residual limb that mean the socket needs altering
- Mixed feelings about the limb, which often settle with practice and support
Aftercare
- Check your residual limb skin daily for redness, blisters or sore spots, and report problems early.
- Keep the residual limb and any liners or socks clean and dry to protect the skin.
- Build up wearing and walking time gradually as advised, rather than overdoing it at first.
- Use any compression (such as a shrinker sock) as recommended to help the limb settle.
- Keep your rehabilitation and review appointments, even once the limb feels comfortable.
- Contact the service if the limb stops fitting, becomes painful, or is damaged.
- Ask about emotional support if adjusting to limb loss or to the prosthesis is hard.
- List of goals to discuss (walking, work, driving, sport, daily tasks)
- List of medical conditions and medicines
- Notes on any limb pain, phantom pain or skin problems
- Details of your home, stairs and transport
- Existing wheelchair or walking aid brought along
- Someone to come with you if helpful
- Service or clinic contact number saved
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- A new open wound, blister or skin breakdown on the residual limb
- Spreading redness, heat, swelling or discharge that could mean infection
- Pain in the residual limb that is getting worse rather than better
- A sudden change in the shape, colour or temperature of the limb
- Feeling generally unwell with a fever alongside limb problems
- A fall while using the limb, especially with a head injury or new pain
- Low mood, hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm while adjusting — seek help promptly
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A good outcome is a comfortable, safe limb that helps you do the things that matter to you — not necessarily the most advanced device available. Many people walk, work or use their hands again with a prosthesis, but progress depends on your health, strength, balance and how your residual limb settles.
The assessment cannot promise a particular level of function in advance, and the first limb is rarely the final one. Comfort and fit are judged over time, and the right answer for some people is to use a wheelchair instead of, or alongside, a prosthesis.
A prosthesis is not a fit-and-forget device. Sockets, liners and components wear and need replacing over time, and your residual limb can change shape over the years, so reviews and refits continue for life. As your health, activity or goals change, the type of limb that suits you may change too.
Related tests, treatments or support
Prosthetic care usually sits alongside physiotherapy, occupational therapy, wheelchair and seating assessment, wound and skin care, pain management and, where needed, psychological support. Many people use both a prosthesis and a wheelchair for different situations.
Follow-up & long-term care
After the limb is fitted you stay under the care of the limb-fitting service, usually with a named consultant and prosthetist. You can return for adjustments, repairs, new sockets or a review of your goals. There is no fixed end point — support is meant to be lifelong.
- Regular checks and servicing of the limb and its components
- Replacement of liners, socks and worn parts over time
- New sockets or refitting as the residual limb changes shape
- Skin checks and prompt attention to rubbing or pressure marks
- Review of components and goals as your needs change
- Repairs if the limb is damaged or stops fitting
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- The first socket is rarely the last; refitting as the limb changes shape is normal, especially early on.
- Components are changed over time as they wear or as your needs change.
- Some people try a prosthesis and decide a wheelchair suits them better — that is a valid outcome, not a failure.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- A named consultant and prosthetist responsible for your care.
- Easy access to come back for adjustments, repairs and refitting.
- Regular skin and fit checks, with prompt help for rubbing or pressure marks.
- A rehabilitation plan with physiotherapy to learn safe use.
- Emotional support available, and honest review of goals over time.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether your care is NHS-funded (the usual route) or private
- The type and complexity of the limb and its components
- The number of fittings and adjustments needed to get comfort right
- Advanced features such as myoelectric hands or mechanised knees
- Cosmetic coverings and personalised finishes
- Ongoing maintenance, repairs and replacement parts over time
- Whether you are eligible for NHS provision before any private route is considered
- What the assessment includes and who is on the team
- The number of fittings and adjustments covered
- Which components and features are included, and which cost extra
- What aftercare, maintenance and repairs are covered, and for how long
- What happens if the limb does not suit you or needs to be changed
On the NHS? Artificial limb assessment, fitting, rehabilitation and lifelong maintenance are provided by NHS limb-fitting centres for people who have had an amputation; private input is occasionally used for choice or specific components, but core care is an NHS service.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Being promised you will 'walk again' without honest discussion of effort, balance and energy.
- Not being told a wheelchair may be safer or less tiring for some or all situations.
- Being steered towards expensive components you do not need.
- No clear plan for what happens if the limb is uncomfortable or does not suit you.
- Appearance or your own goals being dismissed rather than treated as legitimate.
Marketing red flags
- Claims that a high-tech limb will make you walk normally regardless of your situation.
- Pressure to pay privately for a limb that the NHS would provide.
- Promising a perfect fit or no skin problems from the start.
- Selling the newest technology as automatically the best choice for everyone.
- Downplaying how much rehabilitation and practice are needed.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.
- Given my health and amputation level, is a prosthesis likely to help me, and how much?
- What are the realistic goals for me — walking outdoors, work, driving, sport, or daily tasks?
- Would a wheelchair be safer or less tiring for some or all of the time?
- How many fittings should I expect, and how long until I have a usable limb?
- What kind of socket, foot, knee or hand are you suggesting, and why that one for me?
- What happens if the limb is uncomfortable, stops fitting, or breaks?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the specialist who carries out my test, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this test not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an artificial limb on the NHS?
Will I definitely be able to walk again?
How long until I get my limb?
Is the assessment painful?
Why might a prosthesis not be recommended for me?
Can I have a limb that just looks natural?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Amputation NHS England — Prosthetic service specification BSRM — Amputee and Prosthetic Rehabilitation: Standards and Guidelines Limbless Association BACPAR — Clinical guidelines for amputee rehabilitation Newcastle Hospitals — Amputee rehabilitation and prosthetics
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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