There are about 1.7 million people living in the U.S. with limb loss and it is estimated that one out of every 200 people in the U.S. has had an amputation. But in recent years, there have been great advance me nts in prosthetics, from engineering and design to materials, allowing the disabled to live healthier, active lives.

In fact, just as the Winter Olympics co me to an end, disabled athletes from around the world will compete on the world stage in the Paralympics March 12th-21st in Vancouver . Athletes that participate in the Ga me s have disabilities that include restricted mobility, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Paralympics Ga me s are held every four years following the Olympic Ga me s, in the sa me host city and using the sa me facilities as the Olympics.

Former Paralympian athlete John Register, and prosthetics designer Steve Byers will be available for satellite interviews on March 3. They will discuss and show amazing advance me nts in sports prosthetics - thanks in part to cutting-edge innovations in plastic materials. John’s story is very inspirational as he went on to win the Silver Medal in the long jump at the 2000 Paralympics Ga me s, setting the A me rican Long Jump record in the process, after having his leg amputated following an operation. With a background in robotics and electrical engineering, prosthetics designer Steve Byer is well versed in the history of prosthetics and the industry’s advance me nts and will be able to explain and show how far the industry has come .