COVID-19—WHAT AMPUTEES NEED TO KNOW

We know many of you are trying to understand what COVID-19 means for you as an amputee. Though the information available on this pandemic changes daily, we want to do our part to ensure your health and well-being by providing resources to help you better understand it.

AS AN AMPUTEE, AM I AT RISK?

COVID-19 can affect ANYONE.
However, the NCDC suggests that advanced age and underlying health conditions put you at a higher risk of developing more severe complications. Diabetes, which affects a large percentage of the amputee population, is listed as one of the conditions that place you in the high-risk category.

Click here to view the NCDC’s guidelines.



WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF?

We recommend that you follow the CDC’s guidelines:

Stay home.
Wash your hands often.
Avoid close contact (6 feet, which is about two arm lengths) with people who are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched services.
Avoid all cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
Call your healthcare professional if you have concerns about COVID-19 and your underlying condition or if you are sick.

Also, be sure to maintain proper hygiene.
Keep your residual limb and components clean to reduce your risk of infection. An infection will compromise your immune system and decrease your body’s ability to fight COVID-19.




WHILE I AM STAYING HOME OR SHELTERING-IN-PLACE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Stay Active

There are many exercises that you can do in your home to help maintain your balance, strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Check out our instagram page[https://www.instagram.com/purpleprosthetics] to see exercises you can do. Please check with your physician or physical therapist before beginning any of these exercises. f you are able, try taking a walk around your neighborhood. (Be sure to avoid others that are out and about!) Moving will help keep you limber and also improve your state-of-mind.

Find Support

Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical fitness. Stress and anxiety are common during times of crisis, particularly as people self-isolate. If you are staying home, find someone to reach out to by phone or video chat. Share your concerns and how you are feeling—staying connected with others can help you to manage any strong emotions that you may have. If you need someone to connect with, let us know. We would be happy to find you a peer visitor.




As your trusted source for prosthetic care, we want to reassure our patients that we are doing everything we can to maintain your continuity of care, while protecting your health, and that of our staff and the community. We share this information not to scare you, but to help guide you as we all navigate this difficult time. If you have any questions, please contact us[https://purpleprosthetics.com/contact-us] or one of the members of your healthcare team.