Browsing by Subject "phantom limb pain"

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    Exploring How Expressive Art Interventions Impact Adults with Amputations
    (2022) Murphy, Baley; Misluk, Eileen; Alpers, Joan
    This study aims to understand how expressive art therapy interventions can impact adults with amputations. The 44 resources implemented in this thesis helped build a literary foundation and formulated themes seen within the literature. These themes included distorted self-image, feelings of loss and grief, complications with adjustment in daily life and with a prosthesis, phantom limb pain, changes to independent living and autonomy, and inadequate education pre- and-post-amputation. Four groups were proposed to inform, provide insight, and address the psychophysiological needs of individuals with amputations. Art therapy was utilized in all four groups. Three of the four groups integrated guided imagery, yoga, and boxing to enhance the therapeutic experience and achieve goals. Various needs of individuals with amputations were identified through an integrative narrative review research study. A literature matrix was used for data organization, and for data categorization, a thematic analysis was used (Betts & Deaver, 2019). These proposed groups can be used to track progress within the rehabilitation setting. These groups can increase a sense of safety, feelings of control and coherent communication, emotion regulation, strength through yoga and boxing exercises, acceptance of new body/ limitations, autonomy, mastery, strength, and confidence, foster a sense of community, and allow participants to self-reflect on their amputation journey. Expressive art therapies are beneficial for individuals with limb loss and should be implemented in rehabilitation to provide a transitional object that can help ease the transition from hospital to home.
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    Referred Sensation Areas in a Bilateral Toes Amputee
    (IEEE, 2020-08) Lontis, Eugen R.; Yoshida, Ken; Jensen, Winnie; Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology
    Various mechanisms in generating phantom limb pain (PLP) have been hypothesized in the literature. However, there still is no clear understanding of how PLP develops and why it presents. Amputation leads to permanent anatomical and physiological changes of the neural path previously supplying the brain with sensory input, as well as to formation of referred sensation areas (RSAs) on the stump or its vicinity. Sensations may be evoked in the lost body part upon stimulation of RSAs that may be exploited as artificial sensory input. In this work, we present the analysis of RSA maps from a 45-year-old female with bilateral toes amputation. Maps of the RSAs were identified in eight sessions over 107 days, characterized by dynamics in both location and type of associated evoked sensation. The evoked sensations were reported to be felt like current through and brushing of the phantom toes at low intensities close to the sensation threshold. Sensations evoked by electrical stimuli delivered through electrodes covering one or more RSAs approximated the sensation of summation of sensations evoked by mechanical stimuli (light brushing). No painful evoked sensations were observed.