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Football to promote the rehabilitation and inclusion of amputees

Rehabilitation

The European Football Championships, Euro 2016 (10 June-10 July), will be closely followed by fans of European football across the world. Handicap International’s teams plan to use the event to highlight how playing football or another sport can help restore some of the mobility and self-esteem of lower-limb amputees. Isabelle Urseau, a rehabilitation specialist at Handicap International, tells us more.

Blaurah, 17 months, tries playing football with her first prosthesis with the help of her mother, at an orthopaedic centre in Haiti. | William Daniels / Handicap International

“In many of the health care centres supported by Handicap International, ball games, particularly football, play a central role in the rehabilitation of patients with a lower-limb amputation.”

“In terms of physiotherapy, ball exercises help patients with prostheses gain confidence in their orthopaedic device and their new form of mobility. We start with a step, then a pass, some dribbling and maybe even a match on crutches...”

“Lastly, it has an even bigger impact on their morale: the exercises are more entertaining and easy to follow because it’s a game. The youngest patients realise they can still have fun with their friends.”

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In Madagascar, Lalao and Jean-Louis, have been fitted with a reconditioned prosthesis
© A. Perrin / HI
Rehabilitation

In Madagascar, Lalao and Jean-Louis, have been fitted with a reconditioned prosthesis

Lalao and Jean-Louis have both lost a leg. In 2024, they were fitted with reconditioned prostheses at the CHUAM, one of HI’s partners, as part of the Liimba project.

In Uganda, Promise is now living life like any other child
© I. Aguta / HI
Inclusion Rehabilitation

In Uganda, Promise is now living life like any other child

Because of an untreated fracture, Promise lived through years of pain. Thanks to HI, he can now go to school and play with the other children.

7-year-old Elizabeth walks to a brighter future
© Adul / HI
Inclusion Rehabilitation

7-year-old Elizabeth walks to a brighter future

Chantal lives in Uganda, where she is determined to see her daughter Elizabeth thrive. As part of a EU-funded project, HI’s teams have been supporting the young girl who can now walk on her own.