special subjects
Preparing for a Limb Prosthesis
Preoperative Management
Preoperative management includes Functional assessment Planning Exercise program A functional assessment evaluates patients' current capabilities along with their goals. Using the functional assessment, the surgeon, prosthetist, and physical therapist formulate a preoperative and postoperative plan. Regardless of age and current physical status, patients should begin a general and specific exercise program as soon as possible preoperatively and continue exercising postoperatively. Exercises to maintain or increase muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion are taught by a physical therapist. The stronger and more flexible patients are, the more they can do with or without their prosthesis. An Occupational Therapy (OT) program can be implemented when difficulties doing daily activities are anticipated. 