THE ROLE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR THE AMPUTATED PATIENT- PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS AND EVIDENCE

Abstract

This article sought to reflect philosophically on amputation as a profound reorganization of the patient's existence, requiring a biopsychosocial approach from physiotherapy to enrich physical exercise protocols with the philosophical and subjective dimensions of the human experience. This is applied research with a qualitative approach, consisting of a literature review that searched the PEDro database using the terms “Amputees” and “Amputation,” and grey literature using these terms alongside the word “Phenomenology.” The literature review found in PEDro confirmed that the rehabilitation of amputee patients must be conducted by a multiprofessional team. In the pre-prosthetic phase, therapeutic education, pain and stump management, and exercises for range of motion and local and global strength are essential. In the post-prosthetic phase, mixed exercise programs combining gait training, balance, functional activities, and muscle strengthening are indicated. Conversely, the grey literature emphasizes the importance of integrating scientific, social, economic, philosophical, artistic, and psycho-emotional knowledge, presenting reflections on the phenomenology surrounding the amputee patient’s body and issuing an invitation to the philosophy of rehabilitation in physiotherapy. To move forward, future research is needed to consider the efficacy of exercises in areas such as cardiorespiratory health, sexual health, and social integration.