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Therapy Interventions for Upper Limb Amputees Undergoing Selective Nerve Transfers
Published on: October 29, 2021
Preserved grip selection planning in chronic unilateral upper extremity amputees
Benjamin A Philip1, Scott H Frey
1Psychology Department, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA. bphilip@uoregon.edu
Experimental Brain Research
|August 25, 2011
Summary
Upper limb amputees can accurately plan gripping movements for their absent hand, even years after limb loss. This ability is retained regardless of phantom limb sensations or time since amputation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Upper limb amputees lack sensory feedback from their absent hand.
- Understanding motor planning in amputees is crucial for rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if chronic upper limb amputees can accurately plan gripping movements for their affected limb.
- To assess the impact of amputation on motor planning accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Fourteen unilateral upper limb amputees and matched controls performed overt grip selection (OGS) and prospective grip selection (PGS) tasks.
- Grip selection planning accuracy was evaluated by comparing grip preferences between tasks for both intact and affected hands.
Main Results:
- Amputees demonstrated no deficit in the accuracy of grip selection planning for either hand.
- Grip selection accuracy was not influenced by phantom limb phenomena, time since amputation, or residual limb posture.
- A consistent preference for less awkward hand postures was observed.
Conclusions:
- Unilateral upper limb amputees retain the capacity for accurate motor planning of grip movements for their affected limb.
- This unimpaired planning ability may be supported by persistent internal representations or sensory feedback from the intact limb.
