Finding the way back to mobility together.

The doctor is responsible for

• the entire rehabilitation process
• leading and co-ordination of treatment
• defining the indication for provision of a prosthesis
• approving the prosthesis
• treatment of wound healing disorders
• pain control
• checking the shoes and innersoles on the other side

Nursing staff

• The nurse cares for the residual limb, wound care, care of the prosthesis. She teaches the patient how to bandage the residual limb properly and how to don and doff the prosthesis (if necessary, in co-operation with an occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist).
• She has experience in positioning the residual limb to prevent muscle contracture.
• Other duties include activating and transferring the patient.

Physiotherapist

• Toughening of and regaining strength in the residual limb
• Training the residual limb, balance, and how to use the prosthesis
• Individually adapted training on how to walk with the prosthesis

Orthopaedic (shoe) technician

• Both professional groups are responsible for making up and maintaining the prostheses depending on the amputation level.
• Every new prescription or change during the rehabilitation phase should be decided on jointly by the rehabilitation team in order to make use of their specific knowledge for determining the function class.
• The technicians know all about the materials used and  the correct application of the modular prosthesis parts.

Physiotherapist/masseur

• Physical therapy and massage have to be used differently - according to the cause of the amputation. For instance, a residual limb with circulation disturbances must not be massaged.
• In addition to bandaging to prevent swelling, manual lymphatic drainage is also allowed for amputations after an injury. In contrast, manual lymphatic drainage should not be given after amputations for tumours.
• Electromyostimulation, i.e. electronic stimulation of individual muscles at the end of the residual limb, is usually possible. In the case of residual limbs with circulatory disturbances, the duration of the exercises at the beginning of treatment should be kept shorter depending on the degree of the circulatory disturbance, in order to avoid aggravating the supply deficit to the muscle.

Sports therapist

• Strengthening of the remaining limb and the muscles of the torso
• Co-ordination training
• Sequence training, also while wearing the prosthesis

Occupational therapist

• Professional provision of technical aids
• Training the activities of everyday life
• Conversion of the home and working place to suit the needs of the disabled

Psychologist

• The needs of the person as a whole are at the centre of the rehabilitation, not the residual limb
• Physical integrity is disturbed by the amputation and some cope with this better than others.
• In addition to the therapist requiring general life experience and the ability to imagine how it is to have to live with a disability, the psychological guidance of the amputee also requires that he/she has some clinical experience in dealing with amputees.
• Stop smoking