When you walk into the outpatient clinic at HPRC in Columbus, Georgia, you’re likely to witness something remarkable. John Cooper, PTA, is turning every therapy session into a blend of science, creativity, and compassion. For nearly two decades, John has been a physical therapist assistant, but it wasn’t until a recent career pivot that he found his true calling: helping patients with lower extremity prostheses rebuild strength, stability, and confidence.
“I’ve come to view most sessions like solving a puzzle,” John writes in APTA Magazine’s “Defining Moment” column. This puzzle-solving approach isn’t just about prosthetics—it’s about people. Whether he’s collaborating with the certified prosthetist/orthotist (CPO) next door, crafting creative balance drills inspired by MacGyver, or shadowing orthotic technicians to better understand device mechanics, John is on a mission to transform care for the limb loss community.
What makes John’s story so powerful is his relentless curiosity and passion for collaboration. Working in close proximity to a CPO has enabled same-day problem-solving: adjusting misaligned prosthetic feet, assessing socket fit, and fast-tracking necessary modifications. This kind of teamwork accelerates patient progress and ensures continuity of care.
He’s also known for his out-of-the-box thinking. One patient, a bilateral below-knee amputee, benefited from a makeshift setup using steppers and balance pads to improve weight-bearing and hip extension strength. Another patient, an 80-something motorcyclist with an above-the-knee amputation, progressed from unstable gait to riding his motorcycle out of the clinic parking lot with his walker strapped to the back.
Inspired by the 2024 Paralympics and inclusive TV shows like All-Round Champion, John has become an advocate for limb loss visibility and policy reform. He’s eager to improve insurance limitations around therapy visits and prosthetic socket replacements, barriers that can dramatically impact patients’ recovery and independence.
From organizing continuing education courses with prosthetic manufacturers to soaking up insights from podcasts and peer-reviewed research, John is constantly expanding his toolbox. His ultimate goal? To elevate the profession, empower his patients, and ensure that people with limb loss don’t just survive but thrive.
“Working with the lower limb loss community has sparked a continued journey to educate and raise awareness in myself and co-workers, as well as to encourage those with amputations,” he says.
John isn’t just changing lives at HPRC—he’s setting a new standard for what collaborative, patient-centered care should look like.
Read the full article: https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2025/03/01/defining-moment-passion-collaboration
