Biomechanical changes in the shoulder after losing a forearm through amputation
Official title: Biomechanical adaptations after transhumeral amputation
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11359594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how losing a forearm affects shoulder movement and bone shape in people with transhumeral amputation, compared to healthy individuals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,545 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD117342-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11359594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult individuals with unilateral transhumeral amputation who use socket-based prostheses and a healthy control group.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without upper-limb amputation or those who do not use a shoulder or arm prosthesis may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will gather highly precise 3D measurements of shoulder movement and bone structure from people who have a single-arm amputation at the upper arm and from healthy volunteers. By analyzing how the shoulder compensates during daily activities, the study aims to spot specific patterns linked to pain, overuse, and long-term musculoskeletal changes. The team will explore how the shape and motion of the shoulder relate to the use of socket-based prostheses and how these findings could guide better designs and therapies. It is a cross-sectional, observational study that will provide a detailed picture of shoulder biomechanics in this underserved population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to improved prosthetic design and rehabilitation strategies that reduce pain and prevent long-term injuries for transhumeral amputees.
How similar studies have gone: Few comprehensive 3D shoulder biomechanics studies exist for transhumeral amputees, making this work relatively novel but building on general shoulder kinematics methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henninger, Heath Byron — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Henninger, Heath Byron
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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AMPDECIDE: Helping Veterans choose amputation level with personalized outcome information
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Thermoregulation and tissue health in leg-amputee patients
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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.