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Reports in the rehabilitation literature suggest that patients with trans-femoral amputation ambulate well after suitable prosthetic treatment. The effects of exercise protocols on function, however, have not been documented in this population. This study was conducted to compare the outcome of traditional and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques on weight bearing and gait. Fifty unilateral trans-femoral amputees who were attending for their first prosthesis, participated in this study. Amputees were randomly assigned into groups receiving the traditional training or PNF. Traditional treatment was consisted of weight-shifting, balancing, stool-stepping and gait exercises. In the other group the same activities were given by PNF. Amputees were trained 30 minutes daily, for a total of 10 treatments. Pre- and post-training assessment included weight bearing measurements by using two bathroom scales and time-distance characteristics of gait from footprints. A statistically significant difference was found in all parameters within the groups due to pre- and post-training evaluation data (p<0.05), but more obvious improvement was observed in the group who received PNF (p<0.05). The results of the study suggest that the prosthetic training based on proprioceptive feedback was more effective to improve weight bearing and gait when compared with a traditional programme.

Reports in the rehabilitation literature suggest that patients with trans-femoral amputation ambulate well after suitable prosthetic treatment. The effects of exercise protocols on function, however, have not been documented in this population. This study was conducted to compare the outcome of traditional and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques on weight bearing and gait. Fifty unilateral trans-femoral amputees who were attending for their first prosthesis, participated in this study. Amputees were randomly assigned into groups receiving the traditional training or PNF. Traditional treatment was consisted of weight-shifting, balancing, stool-stepping and gait exercises. In the other group the same activities were given by PNF. Amputees were trained 30 minutes daily, for a total of 10 treatments. Pre- and post-training assessment included weight bearing measurements by using two bathroom scales and time-distance characteristics of gait from footprints. A statistically significant difference was found in all parameters within the groups due to pre- and post-training evaluation data (p<0.05), but more obvious improvement was observed in the group who received PNF (p<0.05). The results of the study suggest that the prosthetic training based on proprioceptive feedback was more effective to improve weight bearing and gait when compared with a traditional programme.

This study was performed to investigate the efficacy of prosthetic rehabilitation in children with congenital malformations, also to determine whether there were any factors related to family history and pregnancy which could have affected the formation of such deficiencies.Twenty-five (25) limb deficient children were provided with prostheses and received rehabilitation. A detailed family and pregnancy history was researched through the records. The ability of performing activities of daily living was scored on a four point scale.Thirteen (13) lower and 12 upper limb deficient children with a mean age of 4.88±2.52 years were included in the study. Ten (10) children had longitudinal and 15 transverse deficiencies. Traditional marriages amongst close cousins were observed in 31%. Five (5) mothers used medications, 2 received radiodiagnostic tests and 2 had bleedings during pregnancy.Some 84.7% of the lower limb group became independent walkers without requiring walking aids while 15.3% of them required Canadian crutches for independent ambulation. A total of 61.5% of these children actively participated in recreation with peers. In the upper limb group 41.6% were completely independent in self-care, feeding and hand skills; 33.3% showed independence with self-help devices while 25% tended to use the prostheses for assistive purposes. Participation in recreational activities was 58.2%.The author's results have shown that the children gained a functional activity level although the prostheses were provided in a late period. It can be concluded that success in rehabilitating these children is a true challenge.