Losing a leg to disease or an accident is a traumatic event. A lower-limb amputee must learn how to walk all over again with the help of a prosthetic leg, as balance and weight distribution are different than they were before the amputation. Gait training helps amputees regain their stride, but it can prove to be a time-consuming process. It often takes between three and nine months to regain flexibility and strength in your leg, according to BetterLimbs.com.
Step 1
Stand between parallel bars and use them as support when you first begin to put weight on the prosthetic leg. Start with just your body weight and no steps, then gradually begin to add steps as you become comfortable.
Step 2
Move with small, slow steps at the instruction of your therapist until your balance improves and you feel confident that you aren’t going to topple over. Switch to a cane or crutches once you can walk back and forth between the parallel bars without using both hands on the bars.
Step 3
Step with the prosthesis first when you begin your walking stride. Shift your body weight over the top of the prosthetic leg when you step forward with it.
Step 4
Step forward with your good leg, placing it no farther than the toe of the prosthetic leg. Continue walking in the heel to toe fashion to help keep your balance.
Step 5
Lead with your prosthetic leg on each step when you travel down a flight of stairs, and lead with your good leg when you walk upstairs. Always hold the railing for extra support.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep your feet about two to four inches apart to conserve energy, but move them wider if you feel unstable. Visit your doctor for regular adjustments of the prosthetic leg, so you’re always in balance. Practice swinging forward with your thigh and hip to bend the prosthetic knee on each stride if your amputation is above the knee.
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