Body image and prosthesis satisfaction in the lower limb amputee.

PURPOSE: This study examines the relationship between prosthesis satisfaction and body image in lower limb prosthesis users, and the gendered variations within these relationships.
METHOD: A total of 44 valid responses were obtained to an internet survey regarding prosthesis satisfaction, body image and phantom pain. Spearman Rho correlations were calculated for these three domains.
RESULTS: Moderate to high negative correlations were observed between body image disturbance and prosthesis satisfaction. These were consistent across genders. Other relationships were also revealed, including positive correlations between prosthesis satisfaction with hours of use and negative correlations between prosthesis satisfaction and pain experience, although strong differences between genders were observed for these. The length of time for which respondents had had their prosthesis bore little relation to other variables.
CONCLUSION: The present research is instructive of the close relationship between body image and prosthesis satisfaction, as well as gender variations in these relationships, in lower-limb prosthesis users. These findings have implications for targeted service provision in prosthetic rehabilitation.