Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants
Published on: April 15, 2020
Challenges and Lived Experiences of People with Lower Limb Amputation: A Qualitative Study
Diana Fonseca Rodrigues1,2,3, António Luís Rodrigues Faria de Carvalho1,3, Cristina Maria Correia Barroso Pinto1,3
1Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Medicina, RISE-Health, Porto, Portugal.
Objective:
To understand the experience of people with dysvascular major lower-limb amputation throughout the health/disease transition process, focusing on their needs, challenges, and perceptions during the hospital-to-home transition, including hospital discharge preparation and strategies that promote empowerment in their return to daily life.
Method:
An exploratory study using a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 individuals with dysvascular major lower limb amputation living at home. Data were analyzed using Bardin's content analysis methodology, supported by ATLAS.ti.® software. The study was conducted in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, from 2022 to 2023.
Results:
Five categories emerged: (1) needs/difficulties of amputees, (2) discharge preparation, (3) returning home, (4) empowerment strategies for amputees, and (5) impact of amputation.
Final Considerations:
The challenges faced by individuals with dysvascular major lower limb amputation when returning home include functional limitations, comorbidities, physical, emotional, and social barriers, highlighting the importance of person-centered and family-centered care.
