What is it about?
The study explores the experiences of adult amputees who underwent intensive functional rehabilitation. Through interviews with 10 participants, the research identifies seven key themes: overcoming public scrutiny, intrapersonal challenges, support from stakeholders, the role of play, recognizing normality, acceptance and personal growth, and shortcomings in rehabilitation services. It highlights the physical and psychosocial impacts of amputation, the importance of motivational support, playful activities for skill development, and the need for improved post-rehabilitation resources. The findings emphasize resilience and the potential for amputees to achieve personal growth and functionality beyond pre-amputation levels.
Featured Image
Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The findings suggest that engaging in playful physical activities, such as sports, work, or enjoyable tasks, can help patients with lower or upper limb amputations develop complex skills and achieve high functionality during and after rehabilitation. Using personalized prosthetic aids may enhance this process. Future research could focus on these approaches, and including diverse patient samples may provide more clinically useful insights.
Perspectives
The study suggests that achieving higher functionality and skill development may result from natural resilience, intensive rehabilitation, support from others, and engaging in playful activities. It highlights the need to explore diverse patient experiences to better understand resilience and strategies for regaining functionality, rebuilding psychosocial development, and surpassing pre-amputation skills.
Joel Montanez
Bishops University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: “I would not want my leg back”: Living experiences of adult amputees following intensive functional rehabilitation., Rehabilitation Psychology, May 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/rep0000617.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
