There are also certain conditions that professional workers have to overcome on their way of going through the rehabilitation after amputation. Post-rehabilitation care plays an important role in determining the success of rehabilitation as it assists patients to regain strength and get back to the work. The use of physiotherapy methods used by Work injury specialists at Edmonton helps the amputee workers in enhancing their capacity towards independence as well as developing mobility skills and increasing levels of confidence.
Main Methodologies Of Worker Amputees
1. Prosthetic training and re-adjustment
The prosthetic training is the chief method of rehabilitation that amputated workers need as they are adapting to being unable to use limbs. The provision of the prosthesis requires a specific education regarding learning how to move because adaptation to a new system is the priority. Physiotherapists will train amputees on how to master the use of prosthetic limb to ensure that they excel in carrying out day to day activities and work related activities.
How to do:
- During the fitting process, the prosthetist also undertakes adjustments at the beginning of fitting to ensure the alignment of the prosthesis as well as fitting. Physiotherapist and the patient work in unison to ensure correct fixing of the limb and maximize on their performance.
- A supervisor gives the patient instructions on walking and monitors the progress of making compatible walking actions and balance of the body.
- The increased muscle strength associated with the designated exercises helps to stabilize the lost part of the body by the controlled input of the amputated limb. The endurance that is required when working on a long work shift with the prosthesis is developed in the exercises under the physiotherapy of work injuries in Edmonton.
2. Myoelectric Training (Upper Limb amputees)
Myoelectric prosthesis is used to medical practice and is prescribed to patients with upper limb amputation via muscles signals. Device operation is possible due to electrical signals created by the left muscles. Advanced myoelectric training allows users to receive instructions on appropriate way to maintain and operate their prostheses.
How to do it:
- The physiotherapist uses electromyography (EMG) sensors that recognize electrical activity of other stump muscles.
- The training that is done entails direct exercises in the usage of prosthetic limbs, such as flexing and contracting residual body muscles. Muscle strength is developed in the motor control system by performing weak exercises in a given set of muscles that helps to achieve the precise signals to the prosthetic device.
- After learning to move in the basic movements patients proceed with treatment carrying out activities including gripping and moving objects and releasing objects in order to become used to doing the tasks to be finished in their work place.
- Myoelectric training is one of the specialised approaches, through which workers, who have no limbs, can undertake the complex manual tasks in a precise manner.
3. Desensitization Therapy
This increased sensitivity in amputated limbs is a common occurrence when the limbs have been amputated. The result of the increased sensitivity is a tough situation that makes wearing the prosthetic devices a task. In the process of so called desensitization therapy the limb is desensitized to different textures and temperatures due to exposure procedures. In this way, the amputee employees get to adapt in a better way as well as develop skills that they require to operate a prosthetic at their work place.
How to Do it:
- The patient starts the process of treatment with light touches on cotton balls that transforms to pressing by towels and sponges on the residual limb.
- In desensitizing the patient, the patient is supposed to subject his/her skin to either hot or cold environment.
- The handheld vibrating device applied on the residual limb via Vibration Therapy has two roles: to reduce the hypersensitivity and to help the patient accustom to the contact of the prosthesis.
- A successful patient completion of the treatment leads to less sensitive residual limb hence allowing better and longer use of the prosthetic limb to carry on work activity with.
4. Sensory Rehabilitation by Mirror Therapy
Research indicates that the rare rehabilitation technique called the mirror therapy yields positive results in the alleviation of pain as well as enhancement of the sensory capabilities in an amputee. Mirror-driven intervention enables sensations of false perceptual limb, which play a role in delivering feedback that minimises phantom limb pain.
The way to do:
- When setting up the mirrors the residual limb is placed behind a mirror so that the healthy limb does not disappear in the reflection.
- To help the patient experience subjective illusion, the patient will view his or her unimpaired limb in the mirror to see his or her reflection move owing to his or her activity hence giving a subjective illusion that he or she has a limb fully functioning. By observing the mirror image the brain is able to reconnect to the missing limb and hence reduce the severity of the phantom pain and enhance sensory recovery of the intact limb.
- Treatment consists of 10-15 minutes per session since the patient needs to spend several times a day in treatment in order to provide the results.
- The therapy is an intervention that can be recommended to reduce phantom limb pain and limb motor control in the amputees because it can assist them to resume working after involving in work injuries through physiotherapy.
5. Neuromuscular Re-Education
Neuromuscular re-education type of therapy technique works to train nerve messages as well as damaged muscles following amputation. With this method amputee workers are able to sharpen their muscle control and at the same time they are able to improve their coordination specifically in development of fine motor control.
Here is how you do it:
- The electrical stimulation use is to stimulate the muscles using Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to regain functions following loss of the normal functions after amputation. This mode of therapy will maximize the functionality of muscles and the control system of its operations.
- The physical rehabilitation specialist will also increase activities as the patients gain control of their muscles through simple and less demanding exercises such as lifting an object and using work tools amongst others.
- Exercises that train the body on how to sense its position in space boost not only the sense of balance but also the fall-loads requirements that are essential to the workers who must deal with physically involving tasks every day.
- Neuromuscular re-education forms the restoration of the physical functions which amputations expelled workers to attain so that they could switch back to their jobs with improved working conditions.
Working as an Amputee Worker – The Return of Strength and Confidence
The post rehabilitation work on amputee employees is an essential component since it allows them to go back to their normal work.
professional physiotherapy services on work injury provided in Edmonton. The unusual and unique therapeutical techniques are the fundamental means providing people with amputations to remain productive and obtain stability and increased self-confidence at their workplace. Injured workers get aid in their recovery through the treatment which is approved by the WCB through Next Step Physiotherapy Clinic. Our clinic offers WCB physiotherapy services where special medical attention is given to the patients to ensure that positive outcomes are reached in the healing process.
