Body image and perception among adults with and without phantom limb pain.
Emma Haldane Beisheim-Ryan, Gregory Evan Hicks, Ryan Todd Pohlig and 2 others
PMID 34914201WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with phantom limb pain reported more negative body image and higher awareness of the missing limb than pain-free peers.
However, they did not experience more perceptual distortions, such as feeling the limb was disowned or altered in size.
Key findings
01Participants with phantom limb pain had significantly more negative body image scores than those without pain.
02Greater pain interference was associated with more negative body image and negative emotions toward the phantom limb.
03Rates of perceptual disturbances, such as changes in limb size or temperature, were similar between groups with and without pain.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot with a small sample size (72 participants), and some analyses may have been underpowered. Data collection was remote, which limited the ability to clarify questions, though it reduced examiner bias. The study did not calculate an a priori sample size, and covariates like age, sex, and time since amputation were not fully explored due to sample constraints. Participants were recruited from a specific region and required English proficiency, limiting generalizability.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by non-U.S. government and NIH grants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that phantom limb pain is caused by severe perceptual distortions like disownership. This study found that while body image and attention were worse in the pain group, the actual rate of perceptual disturbances (like feeling the limb was missing or changed) was similar to the pain-free group.