2025 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 180-185
Objective: Patients who undergo lower limb amputations due to diabetic foot lesions often exhibit reduced exercise tolerance due to the presence of comorbidities. In the present case, we administered physical therapy interventions tailored to a patient with limited exercise tolerance, focusing on wheelchair independence and parallel bar gait training. This report details the therapeutic approach and evaluates its impact on prosthetic gait acquisition.
Case Description: A male in his early 60s underwent left transtibial amputation for gas gangrene and was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. The patient presented with sensory impairment and foot drop in the non-amputated limb, accompanied by marked muscle weakness and joint mobility restriction. He required assistance for wheelchair-dependent daily activities.
Intervention: The rehabilitation plan focused on improving exercise tolerance, postural balance, joint range of motion, and muscle strength. Special emphasis was placed on achieving prosthetic ambulation while maintaining independence in wheelchair-dependent activities.
Results: Improvements in exercise tolerance, muscle strength, and joint mobility were observed, which enabled independent ambulation within 20 days of prosthetic fitting. The patient was discharged home 120 days after admission.
Discussion: A stepwise rehabilitation approach improved the patient’s physical activity and facilitated successful prosthetic ambulation. Even for patients with complex impairments, appropriate rehabilitation interventions can increase the likelihood of achieving independent prosthetic ambulation.
