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From Setback to Strength: Francesca's Journey with Limber Prosthetics' UniLeg

Writer's picture: Samantha Obligacion Samantha Obligacion

Meet Francesca - an unstoppable athlete, coach, world traveler, and amputee model. Francesca’s journey began in Rome, Italy where she grew up with her family and attended school in Northern Italy. After graduating, Francesca made the courageous decision to move across the world to settle in San Diego, California in 2017, being drawn to its warm climate and beautiful oceanside. A trained kickboxer and fitness coach, Francesca was no stranger to an active and adventurous lifestyle. Upon moving to San Diego, she continued her career as a kickboxing instructor and earned her Master of Business Administration in Sports Management. Fast forward to 2023, and Francesca’s life in San Diego was flourishing. Accustomed to the urban environment of Rome, she opted to forgo a car for daily transportation, instead navigating the city on a motorcycle. One Saturday afternoon, while returning home after teaching a kickboxing class in downtown San Diego, her life took a dramatic turn.


“I was on Market Street downtown going back home…and I didn’t see anybody but all I felt was the heat on my left leg. In that moment a car came from nowhere…and it happened in a few seconds.”


A car collided directly with the left side of Francesca's body, resulting in a broken femur and a shattered left foot and ankle. Following multiple surgeries, she faced the difficult decision to amputate her left leg below the knee. Nevertheless, Francesca remained determined to maintain her adventurous lifestyle.


Francesca’s road to recovery was not easy. Being far from her home in Italy, Francesca faced the challenge of undergoing most of her physical rehabilitation on her own, relying on her own strength and determination to navigate the recovery process. It wasn’t until about a year after her amputation that Francesca discovered the UniLeg by Limber Prosthetics & Orthotics on Instagram. After wearing the UniLeg for only a few weeks, Francesca was thrilled with its performance. She found the UniLeg extremely comfortable, lightweight, and easy to use compared to other prosthetic legs. She wears the UniLeg all day, without experiencing the pain or numbness she faced with previous socket-based prosthetics she had tried. 


“The material of the UniLeg is softer, in a sense. It’s still rigid but is gentle on my

knee, on my skin, on the joint.”


The UniLeg features a fully personalized 3D-printed socket that fits each patient’s residual limb, maximizing comfort. It is also 30% lighter than traditional prosthetics, enhancing ease of movement and improving swing gait for users like Francesca. As a kickboxing coach and fitness trainer, she values its flexibility and durability, which supports activities like lunges, stairs, and push-ups, and provides stability while squatting with heavy weights. For Francesca, the UniLeg finally presented a prosthetic that could keep pace with her active lifestyle. 


Limber’s UniLeg is the world’s first fully 3D printed transtibial prosthesis that is dynamic, durable, and affordable. It is specifically designed for adventure-seekers like Francesca, and offers patients a naturally lightweight solution that is personalized through Limber’s digital fabrication process. The UniLeg is also water-resistant, making cleaning, showering, swimming, and other recreational activities easier for patients. 


Limber is proud to help Patient Champions like Francesca get back on their feet with dignity. Despite losing her left leg below-the-knee in a traumatic motor vehicle accident, Francesca never let fear decide the fate of her life. She continues to ride her motorcycle in conjunction with the Ride Again Foundation, an organization whose mission is to provide life-changing opportunities and support to motorcycle crash survivors, helping them regain their freedom, independence, and joy of riding. Additionally, Francesca’s level of activity has only increased since her amputation, with many of her friends remarking that she only seems stronger after her amputation. Francesca’s resilience is a testament to the strength and spirit of amputees throughout the healing process. Despite facing intense physical and health challenges, Francesca remains undeterrable in pursuing her dreams of fitness and modeling. 


“I want to show others that if I can do it, anyone can do it, and there is no limitation to what we can do. We are just as beautiful and amazing as everyone else.”




Today, Francesca continues her career as an empowering fitness and kick-boxing coach in San Diego, CA and has grown a large social media following showcasing her routine and active daily life, as below-knee amputee. Francesca is an inspiration and Limber P&O is honored to be a part of Francesca’s journey. To hear more patient stories or to learn more about the UniLeg, visit our website.


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