Amputation is the surgical removal of all or part of a limb. After surgery, wound swelling and pain often lead to muscle atrophy and joint contracture of the residual limb. Patients should start exercise as early as possible to train muscle strength before or after amputation.

Exercises can achieve the following purposes

• Promote the function of muscle contraction to maintain the normal range of motion of the joint, avoid joint stiffness and muscle contracture.
• Encourage patients to receive early physical training and learn self-care.
• Prepare for the prosthesis through early training.

Preparation before exercise

• Wear loose, sweat absorbing and breathable clothes.
• Empty the bladder before exercise.
• Massage muscles before exercise to promote blood circulation.
• During exercise, fix proximal part of limbs to avoid unnecessary activities.
• Throughout the exercise, from start to finish, your movement should be gentle, slow and evenly paced.
• Do exercise every day with low intensity and high frequency to achieve better results. It is better to exercise for 15-20 minutes each time, and increase or decrease depending on individual circumstances.
• If you feel severe pain or discomfort after exercise, stop exercising and consult your physician or therapist.

Exercise precautions

• Amputees may have to be on crutches. Before using crutches, increase the strength of the deltoid muscle of the arm as follows:
• Hold a sandbag in the palm and work the elbow muscles.
• Sit on the edge of the bed with your legs on the chair, palms against the bed, and hips raised.
• In patients with upper limb amputation, the abdcutor and extensor muscles of the shoulder need special attention during exercise.
• For above-the-knee amputees, special attention should be paid to the adduction and extension of the thigh muscles.
• Amputee patients need sustained exercise. Besides the assistance of medical staff, they also need the support and encouragement from their families, so that the amputees have the courage to go on. If you have any questions about amputation, please feel free to ask.