NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Improving how we measure physical function for people using artificial arms

Official title: Advancing measurement of physical function in upper limb amputation

Funded at Providence VA Medical Center · NIH-11402390 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Aimed at making it easier and more accurate to track how well people with upper limb prostheses move and function in daily life.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionProvidence VA Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Providence, United States)
Project startOctober 1, 2023
Project endSeptember 30, 2028
Funding year2026
NIH project number5I01RX004775-04
Project IDNIH-11402390 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with upper limb amputation who use or may use upper limb prostheses.

Less likely to help

Patients without upper limb amputations or those not receiving prosthetic rehabilitation may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project focuses on refining and standardizing how we measure physical function in people who use upper limb prosthetics. It builds on years of work creating disease- or condition-specific PROMs and performance tests, with the goal of reliable, easy-to-use measures in routine care. The work will identify gaps in current tools, improve reliability and responsiveness, and ensure that measures work well for both women and men with upper limb amputation. The effort will involve validating and potentially shortening existing scales to fit real-world clinical settings. If successful, clinicians will have better ways to monitor progress and tailor rehabilitation strategies.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Patients could benefit from more accurate and practical tools to track progress and guide prosthetic rehabilitation.

How similar studies have gone: Previous PROMs and performance measures showed good validity and reliability, but gaps remained, indicating this area is promising but still evolving.

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.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.