Rehabilitation after leg amputation

If a part of your leg has been amputated, it is very important that you get started with rehabilitation soon as possible.
This will help you reduce the risk of complications and help you recover as well as possible.
Among other things, you do this by increasing your mobility and muscle strength, reducing swelling and assisting the wound healing in the amputated leg.
You typically start rehabilitation the day after the operation.
At the hospital you will receive a wheelchair with support for the amputated leg.
If possible, you will be seated in either an armchair or in the wheelchair the day after your operation.

It is really important that you get out of bed and sit up quickly.
This reduces the risk of other complications such as pneumonia or blood clots.

You must sit up as much as possible during the day, but at the same time you must also have peace to lie down and rest.
It is the changes in the position and the change between rest and activity that make the difference, so you can become as mobile as possible again.
It is the physiotherapist at the hospital who instructs you in the various exercises.
You will be instructed in exercises where you sit up and in exercises where you lie down.
The exercises are both for the amputated leg, for the healthy leg and general training for your whole body.
It is very important to train your whole body to achieve the best conditions, so you can become as independent as possible again afterwards.
During your stay, you will be trained to be able to move from bed to chair, both with and without a helper.
You may also have to learn how to jump over short distances on the long leg with a walking aid such as a podium, a walker or elbow crutch.
You will also need to train your balance.
Your balance is a very important parameter in order to becoming as independent as possible.
You must train both your seated and standing balance.
And remember that the training is always adapted to your needs and requirements on this specific day.

Once you have been discharged from the hospital, your rehabilitation will continue in your municipality.
It is the physiotherapist at the hospital who prepares a rehabilitation plan for you.
The plan will be sent to your home municipality and will serve as a further reference for your rehabilitation.

What goals you have with your rehabilitation is individual, whether it is to be able to shop yourself, play golf with a leg prosthesis or move from bed to wheelchair on your own, and only you know.
But it may be a very good idea to set yourself both short-term and long-term goals together with your physiotherapist.

For more information go to helbredsprofilen.dk