Rehabilitation & Outcomes Flashcards

What is the primary goal of pre-prosthetic rehabilitation following lower limb amputation?

Answer: Residual limb conditioning, contracture prevention, and upper body strengthening

Pre-prosthetic rehab focuses on residual limb shaping, preventing contractures, maintaining cardiovascular fitness, and building upper body strength for transfers.

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is most effectively addressed as a first-line intervention with:

Answer: Mirror therapy or graded motor imagery

Mirror therapy and graded motor imagery use visual feedback to remap cortical representation, reducing phantom limb pain in many patients.

The most common complication leading to prosthetic rehabilitation failure in the early post-fitting phase is:

Answer: Residual limb skin breakdown due to poor socket fit

Skin breakdown from pressure and shear at the socket interface is the leading cause of interrupted prosthetic rehabilitation and device non-use.

Which exercise is contraindicated for a transfemoral amputee due to the risk of promoting a hip flexion contracture?

Answer: Prolonged sitting in hip flexion without prone positioning to counterbalance

Prolonged sitting shortens hip flexors; without regular prone lying to stretch them, transfemoral amputees develop hip flexion contractures that impair prosthetic gait.

K-level classification is primarily used to determine prosthetic prescription by predicting:

Answer: Functional rehabilitation potential and activity level

K-levels (K0–K4) guide component selection by estimating the patient's functional rehabilitation potential and anticipated activity demands.

Edema management of the residual limb post-amputation is most effectively achieved with:

Answer: Rigid removable dressings (RRD) or shrinker socks applied consistently

RRDs and shrinker socks apply graduated compression to shape the residual limb, reduce post-operative edema, and accelerate prosthetic readiness.