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2.1 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
The goal ofrehabilitation is return to family, job and community. Some patients achieve
this goal; some never do, while others only partially do because oftheir medical illness,
lack of motivation and lack of support towards rehabilitation (Jones, 1997:27).
Rehabilitation is a compensatory approach appropriate for patients who will need to live
with a disability on a temporal or permanent basis. The theory of this approach focuses
on the use ofthe person's remaining abilities to achieve the highest level ofindependence
possible for that individual, as occupational performance tasks. These occupational
performance tasks. may include self-care, home making, recreation school, civic
involvement and work. When amputees are unable to accomplish daily tasks in the usual
way, adapted techniques may enable them to be independent. This independence cannot
be possible without assistive devices that are commercially manufactured, therefore
financial assistance is a requirement When assistive devices are to be used, it will
involve the rehabilitation team, approach, family and community development
programmes, welfare organizations as well as full participation of provincial and local
authorities (VIok, 1993:205). Mbeki (1997:26) supports this statement by saying that
disabled people should be helped to become fully participating members ofsociety, with
access to all benefits and opportunities ofa society.
2.2 PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
Physical rehabilitation is an important aspect in order to be able to meet the activities of
daily life. The amputees need tobe trained in order to be able to perform certain activities
of daiJy living, such as self care, exercises, getting in and out of the wheelchair
independently, etcetera..
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