Abstract
Physiotherapeutic treatment considerations specific to the through-knee amputee are presented. Treatment is determined by the assessment findings. The physiotherapy programme includes post-operative exercises, early weight-bearing, bed to chair transfers, bandaging techniques, the counteracting of contractures and gait training. Physiotherapy is a vital part of the rehabilitation of through-knee amputees. Principles of treatment are based on normal human locomotion, the individual patient's health status, biomechanical changes and expected stump functions. The through-knee stump is generally problem free, functional and end-bearing, allowing for a high rehabilitation rate in independent ambulation. It is therefore well suited for the geriatric amputee.
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Notes on contributors
G. Mensch
Joyce Laing works in the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Playfield House, Cupar, Fife, and is a Consultant Art Therapist to Psychiatric Hospitals and Prisons and Chairwoman of the Scottish Society of Art and Psychology.
Dr Niculescu Dan, Centrul de Reumatologie, Str. J. (F)ucick no. 5, Bucuresti, Romania
Anni Vilppula, Department of Medicine, Paimio Hospital, Preitilä, Finland
G. Tausch, Department of Rheumatology, Municipal Hospital of Vienna-Lainz, Wolkersbergenstraße 1, A-1130Wien, Austria
Dr Guido Gothoni, Medica Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., P.O. Box 325, SF-00101 Helsinki 10, Finland
A. Elman, Dept. of Rheumatology, Karolinska sjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Hannu Paitälä, Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland
Jonas Jonsson, National Bacteriological Laboratory, S-105 21 Stockholm, Sweden