Article

Constrained functionality and phantom limb pain (PLP) are major
concerns for forearm amputees. Neuroscientific investigations of PLP suggest that
behaviorally relevant stimulation of the stump can decrease PLP. Furthermore the
prosthesis user could use feedback information of the prosthesis hand for
optimizing prosthesis motor control when handling soft and fragile objects.
Somatosensory feedback information from a prosthetic hand may therefore help to
improve prosthesis functionality and reduce phantom limb pain. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to find out whether a two weeks training on a hand prosthesis that
provides somatosensory feedback may help to improve prosthesis functionality and
reduce phantom limb pain. METHODS: Eight forearm amputees with phantom limb pain
were trained for two weeks to use a hand prosthesis with somatosensory feedback
on grip strength. RESULTS: The current study demonstrates a significant increase
of functionality of the prosthesis in everyday tasks. Furthermore, the study
shows that usage of a prosthesis that provides somatosensory feedback on the grip
strength is effective to reduce phantom limb pain. CONCLUSIONS: A prosthesis with
a feedback function appears to be a promising therapeutic tool to reduce phantom
limb pain and to increase functionality in everyday tasks. Future studies should
further investigate the scope of application of that principle.
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Langue : ANGLAIS