Therapeutic Influences on the Upper-Limb Amputee

Upper-limb amputees have a unique set of needs and issues they will encounter over a lifetime. Some of the unique issues upperlimb amputees encounter are self-esteem and body-image concerns, the impact on appearance and to social abilities, secondary post-traumatic adjustments for the majority of traumatic injury patients, and feelings of isolation from other amputees, among other concerns. A thorough understanding of the issues facing upper-limb amputees will assist prosthetists, technicians, and other professionals involved in rehabilitative care in providing comprehensive services and ultimately impacting prosthetic success. This exploratory study addresses both quantitative and qualitative data demonstrating psychological implications that impact the overall prosthetic treatment process and, ultimately, patient success. A review of literature of therapeutic influence on many conditions will be adapted to address the needs and issues of the upper-limb amputee population. A proposal for the development of a preliminary assessment instrument and resources will be gathered with an overview of evidence-based practices that will provide practitioners with the tools needed to attend to the exclusive needs of this population. An overview of the psychological impact of amputation and the various ways issues may manifest in the rehabilitative process will enlighten all care professionals involved to provide appropriate treatment and collaboration among disciplines.