As an amputee we go through a multitude of changes, it’s up to us in the end on what things to keep constant and on what aspects to live life, then on. Mentioned below are a few aspects that we believe you should cater in order to create a safe and healthy environment for yourself!

1. Don’t detach yourself from family and friends, know the importance of togetherness – Find time to meet and have a conversation with people who are there for you in this whole wide world. They are not just there to support you, but be with you in the good as well as bad times. Don’t be afraid to reach out first. 

2. Let your support system flourish – For all-round rehabilitation you need a collective of friends, family, doctors, and therapists.

3. Focus on Post Amputation Rehabilitation – Trust your Doctors, Prosthetists, and Rehab Professionals. Adhere to the schedule to work on your recovery and achieve the highest possible mobility and ease. For below knee amputees and for above knee amputees – refer to these!

4. Seek Guidance – Never hide away your issues either mental or physical. Let professionals help you through the process. Reach us out!

5. Find your own support group – Find people sailing in the same boat, fellow amputees and form an understanding to alleviate grief, pain, anger, and struggles, and welcome new achievements together.

6. Have a positive outlook in life – As a new amputee and the bundle of questions and doubts that surround you, it’s really important that you focus on your future goals. Things may seem bleak at first, but with a positive attitude and the right guidance you can achieve all your goals. We’re here to help you throughout.

For further queries you can reach out to us and we’ll be there to guide you through-out. It’s time to Step it up with Instalimb – Contact us today!

“ Recovery is about progression and not perfection ” 

Rehabilitation follows the same principle, our lifestyle is greatly influenced by how to treat our body. As an amputee it is of an added importance to take care of your stump and adjoining muscles. 

Let’s start, with some exercises for a Below Knee Amputee : 

1. Lie on your back with your non-amputated leg bent and your stump straight as shown in the picture. Straighten the knee on the stump side as much as possible by pushing down into the couch or bed and tightening the muscles on top of your thigh. Now, hold for 5 seconds and release. 

2. Lie on your back with your non-amputated leg bent and your stump straight as shown in the picture. Straighten the knee on the stump side as much as possible and try to raise your leg off the couch or bed (approximately 2 inches). Now, hold for 5 seconds and release.

3. Lie down flat on your back and put a 6 inch roll or roll a towel to a similar height, place it under your knees evenly. Straighten each knee one at a time and press down on the roll while holding it for 5 seconds.

4. Lie down on your stomach and lift each leg one at a time, while keeping your knees straight. Do not move your hips while you lift. Hold for 5 seconds and release.

5. Lastly, to stretch your hip and knee joint – Lie down flat on your back and put a 6 inch roll or roll a towel to a similar height, place it under your knees evenly.Push down into the roll with both knees and lift your hips off the couch or bed gently. Hold for 5 seconds and release. 

Below are a few tips for doing these exercises :

• It is recommended that you do all 5 patterns in 15 minutes and do 2-3 sets each in a day.
• While doing these exercises, if you face any pain or discomfort, stop the exercise immediately and take some rest.
• Don’t hold your breath while doing the exercises, relax and breathe normally.

Are you a Above Knee Amputee? Click here!

It is really important to create achievable goals for your rehabilitation. For further queries you can reach out to us and we’ll be there to guide you through-out. It’s time to Step it up with Instalimb – Contact us today!

Has your stump decreased to half its size and is going further? Does your prosthetic leg become looser day by day? This may be due to the lack of proper bandaging – a common mistake amputees do.

In fact, various studies have shown that stumps can decrease in size by upto 30% in the first few months after surgery and your stump can undergo a great deal of changes either in the girth or the shape in general. 

This happens because your residual limb use has become far less than it used to be before surgery. In more technical terms, a reduction in stump size or shrinkage occurs due to postoperative muscle atrophy, that is your muscle becomes inactive and reduces in size overall.

One more prominent reason for stump size changes is post-operative oedema. It develops as a swelling that results from excess fluid in the stump’s soft tissues. 

Although, this decrease should stabilise almost entirely within 6-8 months after amputation, these size changes can act as a hurdle in terms of rehabilitation and prosthetic socket fitting.This will not only decrease your comfort while wearing a prosthetic but it may even result in the need of a new prosthetic in about 6 months. (i.e. worst case scenario)

Thus, it is significantly important for new amputees to control edema right after amputation and be prepared to get a prosthetic leg. Many amputees are suggested – compression socks, shrinkers, or bandaging for their stump. 

So what exactly you should do?  Don’t worry, we’re here to assist you throughout.

Go through our step by step instruction manual on how to bandage your below knee stump in 4 easy steps. Also, to aid your understanding we have some tips for bandaging that you must take a look upon.

It is really important to start early with bandaging as prescribed. For further queries you can reach out to us and we’ll be there to guide you through-out. It’s time to Step it up with Instalimb – Contact us today!