Jordan Olson Question 3

The loss of limb is a tragic event and in certain situations, amputation seems to be unavoidable. In this present society, a number of people have experienced loss of limbs of one reason or another, as a result of this, their lives have gone through several painful changes. Mean hile, amputation itself is a change in body structure, but has a great influence on many activities, ones participation in activities, and a person!s "uality of life. In the #$$%s, a study as conducted on ho support groups can help rehabilitate amputees. &ealth care providers and the general public ere 'ust starting to figure out ho much a support group could help people ith their amputations. (round the #$$%s support groups for amputees ere scarce to say the least and ere not a normal thing for amputees. Interest in groups increased as more amputees discovered the therapeutic effects of sharing their stories ith others and learning ho to assimilate bac) into society. More than half of the people in the *nited +tates during the #$$%s ho had to have a lo er half limb amputation, hich is an amputation that occurs either belo or above the )nee, ere diabetic. This as a total of about ,-,%%% diabetic amputees. .esearchers found that after five years of their first amputation about ,%/ or 0,1%%% of the ,-,%%% diabetic amputees had to undergo surgery to have their other leg removed. 2atients ith ound healing problems, cancer, dementia, and anyone receiving dialysis ere less li)ely to be fitted ith a prosthetic limb in the #$$%s. 2hysicians felt that these patients ere lac)ing a true need for a prosthetic limb, that they ould not be able to adapt and used their ne limb, or that these patients ould find any use for it.

The #$$%s as as huge stepping stone hen it came to social acceptance and a areness to ards people ho had amputations. More people ho had prosthetics ere starting to feel more comfortable going out into public spaces, especially omen. They ere still struggling ith strange loo)s from the general public, but ith the help they ere getting from the support groups more and advances in technology, amputees ere learning ne ays to do activities that they once loved.

+ports ere becoming more and more accessible for people ho have gone through amputations throughout the #$$%s such as hoc)ey, bi)ing, running, golf, archery, s)iing, horsebac) riding, and s imming. &aving a gro ing technology more and more sports ere becoming easier for amputees to participate in.