What is Amputation Rehabilitation?
Amputation is the surgical removal of a limb or part of a limb, including extremities such as hands, feet, or fingers. A prosthesis, which is an artificial device, is fitted to replace the removed part. Amputation rehabilitation is a long process that starts before the amputation and continues until the person successfully uses the prosthesis, reintegrates into society, returns to work, and performs daily activities independently.
Patients should gain independence in daily living activities as soon as possible, including during their hospital stay. Early mobilization with a wheelchair and performing small tasks helps increase the patient’s self-confidence.
Why is Amputation Rehabilitation Important?
Humans are dynamic beings. To stand upright, maintain balance, walk, and move, legs are necessary; for self-care and activities like eating, arms are essential. Losing these functions significantly impacts daily life. A person who has had a limb or part of a limb amputated tries to compensate for this deficiency and loss of function by using prostheses.
What are the Goals of Amputation Rehabilitation?
Amputation is primarily a psychological trauma. Initial reactions may include denial, shame, viewing the amputation as a punishment, depression, or feeling that everything is over. Changes in body image can be distressing.
Reducing these issues quickly by providing early mobility with a suitable prosthesis is an effective solution. As functional independence improves, the person’s self-confidence increases, which positively affects social adaptation and quality of life.
The goal of amputation rehabilitation is to provide a prosthesis that is well-made, comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing, enabling the person to return to their previous social life, their job, or to be capable of starting a new occupation through a structured rehabilitation program.
Who is Involved in the Amputation Rehabilitation Team?
Successful rehabilitation requires the prosthesis to fit well, proper prosthetic training, and vocational rehabilitation. The amputee’s general expectations include function, appearance, comfort, professional and economic conditions, and social participation.
Rehabilitation begins before surgery and continues long after, involving physiological and psychological interventions aimed at regaining the patient’s functional capacity.
Amputation rehabilitation should be conducted by a multidisciplinary team including a physical medicine specialist, orthopedic surgeon, orthopedic prosthetist/technician or biomechanical expert, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, social worker, and family members.
This team must be knowledgeable about their respective areas to evaluate the amputee, discuss cases, and share ideas effectively.
What are the Expectations from Amputation Rehabilitation?
Pre-Prosthetic Activities: Training in personal care, transfers, and dressing should be given while the patient is still hospitalized.
Bathing: Many amputees need simple assistive devices for bathing, such as a shower chair, non-slip surfaces, and parallel bars.
Wheelchair: All amputees require a wheelchair before they start using a prosthesis. The wheelchair is the first mobility aid and helps patients begin mobilization.
Patients can practice activities such as lying down and transfers while in the wheelchair, which will assist them in performing tasks independently at home.
What Should be Considered in Amputation Rehabilitation Exercises?
Amputees benefit from being treated within groups of similar patients, which supports psychological well-being. The therapist must maintain good communication with the patient. Regular assessments and monitoring of progress are important for managing the exercise program.
Patients should be given a home exercise program. Exercises should be simple, basic, and not overly complex. They should be written down in easy-to-understand language and taught through practice.
The therapist must always include the non-amputated side in exercises; therefore, exercises should involve the entire body. Patients should be educated about the supports and protections provided during exercises. The residual limb sock should be carefully selected, and the stump tip should be massaged regularly.