For nearly four decades, Michael Nunnery, CPO, has approached prosthetic care with a mindset rooted in precision, independence, and adaptability. As the founder of Nunnery O&P in Rhode Island, he has spent years refining a practice philosophy centered on one simple idea: do the work upfront, do it well, and build prosthetic solutions that truly fit patients’ lives.
That same mindset is what first drew him to Limber.
An early adopter of digital workflows and additive manufacturing, Mike recognized the potential of the UniLeg not as a replacement for clinical expertise, but as another tool that could help independent practitioners deliver more efficient, patient-centered care. Today, after fitting dozens of patients with the UniLeg, he continues to integrate the technology into a highly customized workflow built around dynamic fitting, digital alignment, and long-term patient success.
Building a Career Around Craftsmanship and Care
Mike’s path into prosthetics began long before he opened his own practice in 1995.
After graduating from NYU’s prosthetics program in 1988, he spent years working across the Northeast, including time at Newington Children’s Hospital and Newington O&P Systems before eventually settling in Rhode Island. Originally considering medical school, Mike found himself drawn toward prosthetics through a mentor in his college biology department.
Over the years, Mike developed a reputation for combining technical precision with a highly individualized approach to patient care. Long before digital fabrication became more mainstream in O&P, he was already exploring scanning, digital alignment, and additive manufacturing workflows.
Discovering Limber
Mike first connected with Limber co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer, Herb Barrack, years ago after the two crossed paths through the digital fabrication community and at industry conferences.
“Once they showed me their parameters, I was like, okay, I know exactly what I need to do,” he said. Unlike many clinicians who are just beginning to adopt scanning and additive manufacturing, Mike already had an established digital workflow in place before integrating Limber into his practice.
Today, he combines Limber’s system with his own highly refined fitting process that prioritizes dynamic testing, digital alignment, and real-world wear before final fabrication.
“I don’t want my patients needing to come back,” Mike explained. “I do all the work upfront.”
His process often includes 3D printed test sockets that patients wear outside the office for multiple weeks while adjustments are made digitally in real time.
Because the test sockets are inexpensive to print, Mike can quickly iterate and refine fit without relying on traditional labor-intensive fabrication methods.
“Your average BK is about eight to ten dollars worth of plastic,” he said. “If I’m really far off, I go back to my model, print another socket, put it on them, and off they go.”
That efficiency has allowed Mike to maintain a small independent practice while still delivering highly customized care.
“I’m getting away from traditional laminating unless I’m forced to,” he said. “It’s time-consuming, and I run a very small independent practice.”
Patient Adoption and Everyday Functionality
Since becoming a Limber partner, Mike has fit more than 25 patients with the UniLeg. What initially started as an alternative or secondary option for some patients quickly evolved into a full-time prosthesis for many of them.
“Almost all of them wear it pretty much full-time,” he said. “I call it a definitive.”
For patients living in coastal Rhode Island, the waterproof durability and lightweight construction have been especially valuable.
“We’re around the ocean,” Mike explained. “A lot of people go to the beach, fishing, that kind of stuff.”
But beyond the functional advantages, Mike says patients are also drawn to the design itself.
“They think it’s cool,” he said. “It looks nice. They get interesting comments from people out in public about how unique it is and how great it looks.”
The lightweight feel continues to stand out as one of the most consistent pieces of patient feedback.
Embracing Innovation Without Losing Clinical Expertise
As someone who has worked in O&P for nearly 40 years, Mike understands why some clinicians remain skeptical of newer technologies.
For many practitioners, questions around durability and long-term reliability remain the biggest concerns.
But Mike believes success with technologies like the UniLeg still depends heavily on clinician expertise — especially alignment and fitting strategy.
“I don’t think additive manufacturing is going away,” he said. “Whether it’s 3D printing or something else, it’s not going anywhere.”
At the same time, he believes many clinicians still underestimate what digital workflows can offer smaller independent practices.
“There’s huge benefits to it,” Mike said. “I just don’t think people really see it yet.”
Looking Ahead
Despite decades in the field, Mike continues to approach prosthetic care with the curiosity of someone always looking for better solutions.
His practice remains intentionally small, highly personalized, and deeply hands-on—values that align closely with Limber’s approach to innovation. For Mike, technologies like the UniLeg don’t replace clinical expertise; they enhance it, helping him deliver customized care more efficiently while improving comfort, fit, and overall patient outcomes.