Rehabilitation following amputation.

  • Great Britain. Ministry of Pensions.
Date:
[1954]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rehabilitation following amputation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/28 (page 14)
    Figs. 37 and 38 Exercises for strengthening the adductor and extensor muscles of the stump, being performed upon a moveable frame apparatus. wall, extensor exercises are commenced, adductor exercises being performed when he stands sideways to the wall. Two exercise periods of twenty minutes each daily, continue for at least a week, will re-develop the stump muscles sufficiently for limb wearing. The need for re-education of the adductor and extensor muscles is determined by the use to which the stump is put when the patient is walking on an artificial limb supplied for a thigh amputation. When he is standing at attention on an artificial limb the adductor muscles must be contracted to prevent the limb from breaking away at the hip. When he takes a pace with the artificial limb the latter must be carried directly forward in the adducted position, otherwise a circumducted gait will result. When the heel of the artificial limb touches the ground at each pace the artificial knee is slightly flexed; to produce extension which is necessary in order to prevent the limb giving way beneath the patient, the extensor muscles of the hip come into action and produce extension of the knee. The use of the extensors of the hip is again essential when a patient is ascending or descending stairs. This apparatus is adaptable for the development of the quadriceps in below-knee cases. The introduction of the competitive spirit in these exercises is of great value, and patients are found to take a great interest in the results. Exercises can be done by out-patients in their own homes. For thigh stumps, a home-made sling, a blind-cord and a flat-iron will serve, the cord passing over the back of a chair upon the seat of which someone is sitting. Concurrently, exercises should be given for strengthening of the erector spinae and abdominal muscles before the limb is supplied. l4