A Prosthetic Patient's Guide to Exercising

If you are an amputee and have prosthetics, you can still do many of the same exercise activities as everyone else. Whether you have been an athlete in the past, or you are just starting out with an exercise program, you may want to consult with your health care provider and discuss the kinds of activities that may be the best for you. For people with orthotics and prosthetics, there are certain activities that have minimal impact but still provide the cardiovascular benefits.

Cycling

Riding a bike is a great way to work the residual limb without causing it to bear the weight of your body. Both endurance and muscle strength are increased without any injury.

Running

For many years, running was pretty much impossible for an amputee. Thanks to technological advances in prosthetics, running is possible for runners of all abilities. Both below-the-knee and above-the-knee amputees can enjoy running on a recreational or competitive level.

Swimming

Swimming has always been a great way to improve cardiovascular and endurance conditioning, and the same holds true for those with orthotics and prosthetics. The muscles get the resistance they need, and yet there is very little stress on the residual limb.

With the assistance of modern prosthetic technology, amputees can enjoy these and many other activities, depending on their interests. Other sports include skiing, horseback riding, basketball, golf, skating, soccer, tennis, baseball, and bowling.