Increasing amount of research in recent years has added to developing knowledge of phantom limb pain (PLP). In this research proposal I aim to test the mirror therapy as an effective treatment in PLP. Phantom limb pain occurs in at least 90% of limb amputees. PLP may be stimulated by disconnection between visual feedback and proprioceptive representations of the amputated limb. Therefore, I will research both the neurobiology behind this phenomenon and whether illusions and/or imagery of movement of the amputated limb (mirror therapy) is effective in alleviating PLP of lower limbs. Mirror therapy has been used with noted success in patients who have had upper body amputation, but has not been determined in lower limb amputations. I would like to identify if form of treatment is equally effective in lower limb amputations. Yet, to consider mirror therapy as an effective means of treatment, one must understand PLP in its entirety. The main concern being if a limb is no longer attached to the body, how can neurons in the limb transport signals to the nervous system in order for the body to detect sensations? The biological significance of this project is to determine what occurs on the sensory level to cause PLP. Once that is discovered we can address whether or not mirror therapy is a plausible form of treatment. Background: Sensation, as we know it, is thought to be a result of direct contact between the body and an internal or external stimulus. However, in the case of phantom limb phenomenon, sensation is explained rather differently. The phantom limb phenomenon, in short, occurs when a person with a missing limb still has sensations of limb being there; it is having the perception of missing limbs and feeling sensations from i... ... middle of paper ... ... can be determined, then steps can be taken to effectively treat PLP. Person studying another animal communication system would find this research important and interesting as most animals have the similar neurobiology systems. Therefore, one can test to see if this theory is also true for their organism. If so, specific mechanism based treatments for PLP can be developed. One can also execute further research to explain the relationship between the different proposed mechanisms listed above. Their results can be used to develop a universal hypothesis explaining PLP; this will become essential in the future for the evolution of more specific mechanism-based treatment recommendations. These questions were chosen because my research aims to as they address the exact mechanism that causes PLP (neurobiology) and what method of treatment is best for the given mechanism.
Organisms are limited by the structure of their bodies. Some creatures are capable to do great things because of the number of limbs they have, or the density of their skin. Humans in particular are extremely reliant in the capabilities that our bodies bring to us. Our bodies however, are not all dependable, as we can injure ourselves, and even lose parts of our body. To combat this loss of body, the great minds of our species have created false limbs to replace what we have lost. This great improvement to our lives is known as, the prosthetic. In recent years this technology has expanded into a new form, that combines prosthetics and robotics to make life for people
Strange as that this may sound, when a Wannabee person lose a limb they are actually gaining so much more of who they felt they are. As one Amputee said to his doctor “you have made me the happiest of all men by taking away from me a limb which put an invincible obstacle to my
... (CNS) may also indicate another copper binding function for PrP. In blood and blood plasma, amino acids are mainly what copper binds to, yet the chief component which it actively binds to is Serum Albumin, which readily takes up 1 copper at its N terminal. The cerebrospinal fluid however, contains more amino acids and lacks a high quantity of serum albumin, and othe copper binding constituents normally found in blood. Thus it is hypothesised that PrP plays a role similar to albumin, by helping maintain copper homeostasis. Several studies have also shown that PrP opposes apoptosis reactions in some cells, by protecting the cells from the signals which would usually cause apoptosis to occur. Mutagenesis experiments have shown the PrP octarepeat domain is required to protect against Doppel-protein toxicity, which when usually expressed, would bring about cell death.
Phantom pain refers to the phenomenal experience of pain in a body part that has been amputated or deafferented (Flor, Nikolajsen & Jensen, 2006). The characteristics of phantom pain have been described to occur in quick and sudden attacks of pain shooting up and down the amputated limb as well as cases of constant, excruciating pain whilst intensely perceiving the amputated limb to be cramped or postured abnormally (Katz, 1992). Approximately eighty percent of amputees report suffering from or at least experiencing some level of phantom pain post amputation; therefore it is a prominent issue (Flor, Nikolajsen & Jensen, 2006). Phantom pain is neuropathic pain that has no individual trigger but instead a plethora of psychobiological aspects of neuroplasticity that contribute to the cause of phantom pain (Grusser, Diers & Flor, 2003). The following will: outline the role of the peripheral and central factors associated with phantom pain and discuss the cortical reorganisation of the somatosensory cortex in relation to phantom pain.
In 1985 the movie going community was enthralled with its newest hit movie titled Short Circuit. The movie portrayed a robot that due to accidental electrocution believed that it was alive. In the final scenes the robot know as Johnny five was seen removing one of its damaged robotic arms and replacing it with a new and identical arm. This idea of replacing one limb with another of equal function was unfortunately only movie fiction. This fiction however is quickly becoming a reality for countless thousands of people living with prosthetic limbs. In the October 1998 issue of Scientific American the story of Melissa Del Pozzo a thirteen year old girl living with a prosthetic limb gives an example of the hope many are living with. Her only dream is that she could one day tickle the ivories of her piano again. Her hope could soon be rewarded. With continued research, prosthesis's are making advancements that were once only dreams. These advancements are seeing the most change in the areas of dexterous movement, feeling, and comfort.
Small, S., Buccino, G., & Solodkin, A. (2012). The mirror neuron system and treatment of stroke. Developmental Psychobiology, 54(3), 293-310
Although nothing can ever fully replace any part of our bodies, most people who have suffered the loss of a body part or who were born missing something that everyone else has and needs—like a foot or a hand—would agree that something is usually better than nothing. People have used all sorts of artificial devices probably from the beginnings of human history to help them compensate for the loss of a limb. Thus in very ancient times, the first and simplest prosthesis may have been a forked tree limb that was used as a crutch to help someone walk whose leg may have been badly damaged or lost in an accident or to a disease.
This type of neurological disorder then follows suit into other stories such as “The Man Who Fell Out of Bed” and the “Hands” Story. These two stories are similar with the patient in “The Man Who Fell Out of Bed” believed his leg did not belong to him and calls it a “foreign leg”. Whilst in the “Hands” story Madeleine age 60 is blind with cerebral palsy and found her hands useless lumps of dough. However, in Madeline’s case all her sensory capacities where intact and she was able to restore full sensation in her hands by tricking her into grabbing food when she was
They now are very useful in allowing amputees to lead a more normal life. This paper will outline the advanced technology of bionic limbs. These bionic products combine artificial intelligence with human philosophy to create a more human-like way to restore the function of a lost limb. These bionic limbs take the pressure off amputees by sensing how their lost limb should move and adapts to movement of the amputee. The bionic product automatically controls itself without the amputee having to think about how to move it. The purpose of this paper is to inform about bionic products. It will further explain how they operate, along with their efficacy in prosthetics. Innovative bionic technology continuously increases the quality of life for amputees. That innovative technology will be explored through this paper, along with their specific functions and operations. The new products like the Power Knee, the Rheo Knee, the Propio Foot, and Symbiotic leg allow more mobility and individualistic movement for the amputee. Each was developed and tested to be efficient in the prosthetic world. I will explore case studies of people who have these products. I will explore the struggles and adaptions they had to make with the use of this technology.
The control center of the human body is none other than the mighty brain. Due to its incredible importance in basic human functioning, both voluntary and involuntary, any injury or trauma to this organ will have a great influence on the body and it's capabilities (Burrus, 2013). Exploring how the brain deals with various injuries and damage proves that the functionality of the brain is fitting to make the brain the power house of the body. But before exploring this with the help of case studies, it is important to first make sense of the the anatomy and functioning of the nervous system as a whole in order to understand how it is affected during injury, the functioning of the body that is lost, the intervention implemented for treatment or rehabilitation and the changes experienced.
Rowland, L. P., ed. Merritt’s Textbook of Neurology. 7th ed. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia: 1984.
There are many psychological and physical changes after an amputation. Body and mind have suffered changes and must adapt to the unexpected challenges. Some of the psychological effects that can be observed on an amputee are denial of the situation, anger, depression, factors like this can affect anyone without a prosthetic, nonetheless an amputee. Furthermore, this patient was active prior to the first failed surgery of TKA, which leaded to the amputation. The physical condition of the patient might have been compromised after two surgeries. Additionally, it can be assumed the patient is deconditioned and lacks endurance. The patient might know of his physical limitations and this creates a safe point of self awareness when ambulating and
On 11/17/2015, I wore an arm brace to replicate an amputee that had lost his/her right arm at the shoulder joint. This was to replicate a loss of a dominant arm – the right side. I spent 6 hours with this condition and will report my findings in this report. I lost my arm in a car crash after it was severed and crushed my right arm. Most of my arm was beyond repair and had to be amputated, and I had to learn how to live without 2 hands. There are many reasons why amputations are required.
Prosthetic limbs, one of the examples of physical enhancement, have improved to such an extent that the capabilities and...
When we are unaware of our body, we are disconnected and unable to receive the information we need to prevent physical issues from developing. We may not feel the sun burning on our skin until it is too late and we already have serious sunburn. Since we are cut off from these sensations, we may not feel when our stomach is full, may not recognize the sensation that tells us that we are thirsty, or may drink too much alcohol because we don’t feel what it does to our system; we may not recognize tiredness until we are exhausted, and sometimes we may hurt our body simply by not being aware of what is happening in the present