Better ways to measure arm and hand function after an upper limb amputation
Official title: Advancing measurement of physical function in upper limb amputation
Funded at Providence VA Medical Center · NIH-11220692 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is improving questionnaires and short performance tests to more accurately track how people with upper limb amputations use prosthetic arms and hands.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Providence VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004775-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11220692 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with an upper limb amputation who use or are evaluated for a prosthesis (including one-handed and two-handed task users) are the ideal candidates for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without upper limb amputation, those who do not use a prosthesis, or individuals unable to complete questionnaires or simple performance tasks may not benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If you take part, you may be asked to complete short patient-reported questionnaires about everyday tasks and to perform simple timed or functional tasks while using your prosthesis. The research team is refining three condition-specific measures they developed (including the UEFS-P, a PROMIS upper-extremity version, and the AM-ULA) to reduce burden and fix problems like floor effects and poor reliability. They will collect standardized data in clinic visits and may test shortened forms and scoring methods calibrated for people with upper limb amputation. The goal is to make tools that work well for both one-handed and two-handed task users and that can be used in routine care and research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give clinicians shorter, more accurate tools to track function and guide prosthetic rehabilitation.
How similar studies have gone: The team has already produced promising patient-reported and performance measures with some evidence of validity and reliability, but earlier versions showed limitations that this project aims to fix.
Where this research is happening
-
Providence VA Medical Center
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Resnik, Linda J. — Providence VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Resnik, Linda J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Spinal muscle targets to improve mobility after leg amputation
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-
Bone and skin movement inside prosthetic sockets for below-knee amputees
This project uses moving X-ray and CT-based 3D models to measure how bones, skin, and liners move inside the prosthetic socket of people with below-knee amputations during walking and other activities.
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Surgical strategies to prevent and reduce amputation pain
This project tests how two nerve-sparing techniques can prevent or lessen phantom and residual limb pain in people who have or will have amputations, especially veterans.
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Improving how we measure physical function for people using artificial arms
Aimed at making it easier and more accurate to track how well people with upper limb prostheses move and function in daily life.
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AMPDECIDE: Helping Veterans choose amputation level with personalized outcome information
A doctor helps a veteran facing leg amputation learn personalized risks and likely outcomes for different amputation levels to guide their care choices.
-
Thermoregulation and tissue health in leg-amputee patients
This grant looks at how skin temperature and mechanical factors during walking affect tissue health and risk of sores in people with a leg amputation, especially those with diabetes.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.