If you are an above-knee amputee, taking an active role in your own rehabilitation may reduce your risk of developing complications. You will need to extend your range of motion and increase your agility, balance and strength if you want to return...
Exercises for a wheelchair-bound leg amputee are designed to help keep the body mobile and active despite being limited in motion. Despite being wheelchair-bound, individuals with leg amputations can still perform exercises outside of a wheelchair...
The benefits of exercise for a below-the-knee amputee are much the same as for any other person, with a few special considerations. Assuming you have made a full recovery and are ready for exercise, it can help improve your balance and...
Diet often takes a backseat after an amputation, especially as you transition back into your normal life. Amputees usually experience a sharp decrease in activity after injury. Weight gain and health complications are major concerns when...
Body mass index, or BMI, is a good guideline for keeping track of your weight. Your BMI value can tell you if you are underweight, less than 18.5; healthy weight, 18.5 to 24.9; overweight, 25 to 29.9; or obese, 30 to 39.9. Since weighing more...
The primary goal of rehabilitation after a lower extremity amputation is restoring strength, and flexibility to your hips and knee. Loss of range of motion and knee contracture is a commom complication of lower extremity amputation. In both above...
A lower extremity amputation refers to the removal of the leg, foot or toes from the body, according to MedLine Plus. Leg amputations are generally considered trans-femoral, or above the knee, and trans-tibial, or below the knee. Lower extremity...
Recovering from an amputation requires not just a tremendous amount of mental strength, but also physical strength. While it may be tough to cope with the loss of a limb, it's still important to perform the exercises prescribed by your doctor or...
A unilateral lower-extremity amputation changes your center of gravity as result of you weighing less from the the amputation. Your physician will recommend weight shifting and balance exercises to help you learn your new center of gravity and...
Your physician will work closely with you after lower leg amputation to restore strength to your lower limb muscles and hips and restore flexibility in your hips and knees. Flexed hip and knee contracture is a common complication of lower...
Whether you have a single- or a double-leg amputation, it is possible for you to run again. Here's a name for for motivation: Oscar Pistorius. This world-class sprinter is a bilateral amputee who is running against athletes without disabilities....
Although it might be intimidating for amputees to get into a pool, the benefits can be enormous. As Fred Lambeck, a member of the U.S. Disabled Swimming Team explains, "It uses all the major muscle groups, whereas most other activities use...
Calculating an ideal body weight for an amputee can be tricky because of the need to factor in one or more missing limbs. Generally, the ideal body weight for an amputee is calculated by subtracting the likely weight of the missing limb or limb...
A bilateral amputee is as a person who has had either both arms or both legs removed through amputation. Amputation may occur by a trauma or as a surgical procedure, and occurs in modern warfare as an injury from landmines or explosive devices....
Exercises for double amputees are designed to improve range of motion in your remaining limbs as well as improve your overall body health and strength. Exercises for double amputees vary depending on the stage of recovery. If you are just...
Exercises for amputees who are elderly are designed to help improve your flexibility and muscle strength without causing damage to your joints and ligaments. While weight bearing exercises can be beneficial, performing amputee exercises in the...
Taking an active part in your rehabilitation is essential in preventing knee and hip joint contracture. Loss of range of motion and flexibility is a common complication of lower extremity amputation. Your physician will recommend exercises to...
Below-the-knee amputations are the most common in the United States, which has an estimated 1.5 amputees per 1,000 people, according to Orthotics and Prosthetics. Your physician will recommend hip abduction exercises to strengthen the muscles in...
Amputations could involve one or both arms or legs, below or above the elbow or knee. Muscular atrophy and bone loss often come from amputation, due to lack of use of the remaining limbs. However, whether you have an upper or lower extremity...
Rehabilitation after amputation can help maintain your hip and leg mobility as well as provide strength. Sitting for long periods of time can tighten the muscles in your hip and leg. Your doctor or physical therapist may recommend daily stretching...
Transtibial amputee and U.S. Army Ranger, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Kapacziewski deployed to Afghanistan four times after his amputation in 2005. Warrant officer Jonathan Holsey, also a transtibial amputee, runs two to three miles a day with his...
Exercises for lower leg amputees are designed to help stretch out your lower extremities as well as strengthen them. Post surgery, it is important for individuals who have had their lower leg amputated to keep the muscles in the leg stretched and...
Exercising at home following an amputation can help you regain your strength and flexibility. With a lower limb amputation, you can perform most exercises without a prosthesis, as you will lie on your back or sit in a chair. Your fitness level...
Amputees need to work out for the same reasons exercise is beneficial for others. Working out can improve your cardiovascular health, flexibility or range of motion and strength. Exercise also has numerous psychological benefits. You need to be...
Trans-femoral, or above the knee amputation is the second most common type of amputation, and can occur due to a circulatory disease, an accident or a birth defect. Surgeons attempt to preserve as much of the muscle mass as possible during the...
Therapy and exercise are important parts of rehabilitation after a below knee amputation. Taking an active and present role in this rehabilitation process is an equally important piece of recovery, according to the Ohio State Medical Center....
Exercising after an arm amputation will help prevent muscular atrophy and provide the benefits of resistance training. You'll gain increases in both muscular endurance and strength. Incorporating these exercises into two weekly strength-training...
A lower-extremity amputation may be at the hip, above the knee, below the knee, the foot or simply a toe, according to the Merck Manuals. Home exercise for a lower extremity amputation will vary depending on the extent of the amputation, but...
An above-the-knee amputation is a surgical procedure designed to remove a damaged leg above the knee joint. Conditions that potentially require this type of surgery include uncorrectable poor blood flow, traumatic injury, severe infection, birth...
Play a game of hoops from a wheelchair. Learn tips and techniques for playing wheelchair basketball in this adaptive sports video.
