Exercises for Improving Range of Motion
FOR PEOPLE WITH LOWER EXTREMITY AMPUTATIONS
Improving Hip and Back Flexibility
Getting back to the activities you love after a lower extremity amputation can be tough, but it’s not impossible. Immediately following
Lying flat on your stomach stretches the muscles in your hips and lower back. Keeping these muscles flexible is crucial to maintaining the fullest range of motion of your residual limbs. Try lying in this position, or propped up on your elbows, for 10–20 minutes each day. If you experience discomfort, try cushioning your chest with some pillows. If you can regain your range of motion with these stretches, you’ll be able to start strengthening your residual limbs and improving your overall balance and agility. If you’re doing these stretches properly, you should feel mild tension, but nothing like excruciating pain. Make sure you’re constantly switching positions so your muscles don’t get too stiff. If you have any questions about how to improve your range of motion immediately following surgery, our Certified Prosthetists and Orthotists would be happy to answer any of your questions or guide you to a trained/skilled physical therapist. Give our clinic a call at (208) 377-4024.
surgery, you’ll probably be sitting a lot more than you used to, which can cause
your muscles to tighten up and prevent the full movement of your limbs. Therefore, it’s important to improve your limbs’ range of motion. Here are a few exercises to help you do that. Improving Knee and Ab Flexibility
One of the best positions for improving flexibility in your knee is to be seated in the upright position. If you’re sitting in a wheelchair or on a couch, fully extend your knee on the leg rest or on a cushioned board. To keep your ab muscles flexible, if you have a cane, center it behind your neck, rest it on your shoulders, and then hang your arms over each end of the cane. Slowly twist your body from the waist side to side.
SUDOKU
CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • • • • •
1 chicken, approx. 5–6 lbs
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme, 20 sprigs removed
1 lemon, halved
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
Olive oil
DIRECTIONS
1.
Heat oven to 425 F.
2. Rinse chicken inside and out, removing giblets if included. Move to a work surface, pat dry, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with thyme bunch, lemon halves, and garlic head. Brush outside with butter, and then season again. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen string. 3. Meanwhile, in a roasting pan, toss onions and carrots in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 20 sprigs of thyme. 4. Place the chicken on the vegetables and roast for 1 1/2 hours. 5. Remove from oven, and let stand for 20 minutes covered with foil. 6. Slice and serve with the vegetables.
208-377-4024 3
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