title: Sensory feedback prosthesis reduces phantom limb pain: proof of a principle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University, Am Steiger 3/Haus 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walter-Walsh
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Preissler
authors.forename: Gunther O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Otto W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: Wolfgang H R
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Miltner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D056228:Feedback, Sensory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult