Prosthesis Use - Prevention of Muscle Contractures

Knee flexion muscle contractures must be avoided. This is when the muscles around your knee get shorter and tighten to the point where you cannot straighten it. Contractures are simple to prevent but very difficult to fix. They occur when your knee stays bent for too long.

A flexion contracture will make it hard to walk and make successful prosthetic use very difficult.

Keep your knee straight as much as possible. It does not matter where you are: sitting in the wheelchair, recliner, or lying in bed. Keep your knee straight. Avoid pillows. Do not place them under your back, under your hip or your knee.

Do not sit with your legs crossed or hang your residual limb over the bedside. Place a board under your seat cushion to support your residual limb and keep your leg straight. A muscle will atrophy if it stays contracted for too long. Keep your knee straight. Preventing muscle contractures will be stressed in physical therapy.

When lying in bed flip over once in a while and lie on your stomach (prone position). Your physical therapist will advise you about this. A reasonable schedule is to lie prone for 15 minutes, three times a day.