How to Get Into Sport After an Amputation

Getting an injury can be devastating if you enjoy exercising or compete in a sport, especially if the injury is so severe that it requires an amputation. The surgical removal of a part of your body does not need to mean you cannot continue playing the sport you love though, as TBI Law, a specialist in hospital negligence claims, has explored in this article:

Charlie Lewis’ story

We can’t think of a more influential way to begin this piece than by actually looking at someone who has returned to sport following an amputation.

Charlie Lewis was only 19 years old when he had an accident while riding his snowboard down an off-piste section of a mountain range in France. The incident saw Charlie catapulted 50m down the slope, with his leg shattering along an eight-centimetre length of bone upon impact.

At first, plating was used to keep the bone in place. A few weeks later though, Charlie had to undergo reconstructive surgery after the plating started to break down. The issues would continue for him though and he had undergone nine separate operations on his leg by the time he reached 21 years old.

Charlie had thought about amputation then, but surgeons encouraged him to try more reconstructive surgery before opting for the life-changing surgery. When he reached 29 years old though, the decision was made for Charlie to have his right leg amputated from below the knee.

The operation took place in January 2014; by mid-summer, Charlie had been provided with his running prosthetic and competed in his first triathlon with no prior training.

He pointed out to The Telegraph "I hadn't cycled a bike for two years and I hadn't run for ten years, so it was strange but that was it really. I went back to being 19 and carried on where I left off."

Fast forward to the present day and Charlie currently competes in regular triathlons and marathons. While he admitted that an amputation has made him prone to injury, Charlie states: "Running for me is really natural, it's what we're designed to do as humans. It's the ultimate freedom to be able to run, and that’s what I missed so much when I didn't have the leg to do it, so now it's my freedom to be able to move again — and if I can tie that in with the freedom to travel and explore that's even better."

Participation in sport after an amputation

The prevalence of people getting back into sport after they have had an amputation has been highlighted in the study titled ‘Return to sport following amputation’, which was published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness in August 2014 and can be viewed in full here.

In the research, it was revealed that there is a decrease in people participating in sporting activities after an amputation. In fact, reports from America suggest that 61 per cent of amputees will partake in some form of sport, while in Europe this rate is said to be at between 11 and 39 per cent. It must be noted that the studies from America involved the analysis of younger amputees than the European studies.

However, the study went on to state that there have been more opportunities created for people to get involved in sport after they have suffered from limb loss over the past few decades. In the report, it is acknowledged: "The use of sporting activity for rehabilitation of amputees was first introduced in 1944 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The first international Paralympic Games were founded in 1960, originally focusing on sports utilising wheelchairs. In 1976, ambulatory sports were included and the Games have evolved since then.

"With this evolution in sporting activity, public interest has increased with the realisation that amputees can compete at a similar level to able-bodied athletes."

The growth of the Paralympic Games makes for a particularly intriguing read. At the inaugural Summer Games in the Italian city of Rome in 1960, there were 209 athletes representing a total of 17 countries who competed across eight sports consisting of 113 events. Fast forward to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, these numbers had increased to 4,328 athletes representing 160 countries. These athletes competed in 22 sports consisting of 528 events.

The complete rise of the Summer Paralympic Games can be tracked via the following table:

Summer Games

No. of athletes

No. of countries

No. of sports

No. of events

Rio 2016

4,328

160

22

528

London 2012

4,245

164

20

503

Beijing 2008

4,011

146

20

472

Athens 2004

3,808

135

19

519

Sydney 2000

3,879

123

19

550

Atlanta 1996

3,255

104

19

519

Barcelona 1992

2,999

83

16

489

Seoul 1988

3,041

60

18

733

Stoke Mandeville (GBR), New York (USA) 1984

2,105

54

18

975

Arnhem 1980

1,654

42

13

590

Toronto 1976

1,271

41

13

448

Heidelberg 1972

922

42

10

188

Tel Aviv 1968

755

28

10

188

Tokyo 1964

266

20

9

143

Rome 1960

209

17

8

113

The Winter Paralympics Games’ history is interesting too. At the first Games in Ornskoldsvik in 1976, 198 athletes representing 16 countries contested in two sports made up of a total of 53 events. At Sochi in 2014 though, there were 541 athletes from 45 countries taking part in five sports consisting of 72 events. Here’s the full breakdown of the Winter Paralympic Games:

Winter Games

No. of athletes

No. of countries

No. of sports

No. of events

Sochi 2014

541

45

5

72

Vancouver 2010

502

44

5

64

Torino 2006

474

38

5

58

Salt Lake City 2002

415

36

4

92

Nagano 1998

562

31

5

122

Lillehammer 1994

469

31

5

133

Albertville 1992

365

24

3

79

Innsbruck 1988

377

22

4

97

Innsbruck 1984

419

21

3

107

Geilo 1980

299

18

3

63

Ornskoldsvik 1976

198

16

2

53

So, why should those who have had an amputation consider making a return to a sport they enjoyed before the procedure — or get involved in sporting activity for the first time? In the ‘Return to sport following amputation’ report, it is stated: "Amputation can affect the sportsman in different ways depending on the anatomical position and the underlying cause. Sportsmen have a strong sport ethic, having internalised the sporting culture they have been a part of.

"Returning to sport can improve mood and psychological health with a reintegration into this sporting culture. Amputees will develop new social contacts via their sporting activities and will gain further knowledge regarding prosthetic use and acquisition, which will be further beneficial."

Precautions when exercising after an amputation

Following an amputation, people will see both their exercise routines and capabilities change when attempting physical activity again.

Therefore, take some time to prepare ahead of your first bout of exercise. Consider which type of physical activity you want to get involved in as some sports may be more difficult to get straight involved in depending on the type of amputation undertaken. In general, walking and swimming are advised due to the fact that they require nothing more than some initial prosthetic training. Walking also appeals as it’s an activity that can be done anywhere and at no cost at all.

Book an appointment with a doctor ahead of starting an exercise programme too. This is because they will be able to prescribe a stress test so that those with an amputation will know just how intense their exercise should be. Also enquire with a medical practitioner about them creating a safe exercise programme tailored around your abilities.

When it comes to getting involved in sport, make sure to wear loose and comfortable clothing and take note about how the body is feeling throughout any physical activity — the participant should be able to hold a conversation as they exercise and not suffer any pain once an exercise routine is complete.

It is best to refrain from exercising when the weather is particularly hot or cold as well — extreme weather is only going to put more stress on the body.