April 2005 • Vol. 1, No. 1
	Advancing Orthotic and Prosthetic Care Through Knowledge

Ready, Set, Relax!

Meet the first Liner designed to Reduce Phantom Pain and Phantom Pain Sensations

Phantom limb and "phantom pain" were first coined by a Philadelphia, PA physician shortly after the Civil War, when thousands of soldiers had limb amputations in field hospitals. While the type of pain experienced can vary, one study reported over 80% of the approximately 7,000 military amputees experienced varieties of burning, stinging, cramping, shooting and twisting.

Phantom pain is a complex multifaceted problem, which belies traditional medical therapy. Methods of treatment have been diverse, ranging from prescription medications to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS) to massage and innovations created by amputees themselves.

Years of intensive research into both traditional and nontraditional methods of pain treatment led the research team of medipro® in Bayreuth, Germany to developed the innovative RELAX liner. The RELAX liner is, at its core, an assistive device which interrupts the transmission of sensations which stimulate the nerve endings of the residual limb, causing the phantom pain.

Nerves in the residual limb transmit pain signals to the cortex of the brain. Electromagnetic waveforms, generated by natural & manmade sources within our environment, create fields of radiation which can lead to headaches and pressure sensitivities within the joints. The research team at medipro® found that these same electromagnetic waveforms can also cause a static electric charge to develop in the socket of the prosthesis, stimulating nerve endings of the residual limb.

Based upon this finding, medipro developed a new cover material called Umbrellan® to shield the residual limb from electromagnetic influences. The cover is adhered to a proprietary blend of silicone gel, formulated specifically for the needs of those with particularly sensitive skin, including diabetics. Finally, medipro’s researchers incorporated a custom matrix for the application which envelops the soft tissues of the distal end, preventing mechanical irritation. By fabricating the matrix of the same Umbrellan® material as the outer covering, the matrix also serves as a ground between the wearer’s skin and the outer cover.

To test their theories, medipro conducted an informal patient evaluation of the RELAX liner. Twenty German amputees who experienced varying degrees of phantom pain severity, were provided with the RELAX liner and a control liner for a four week period. Participants were requested to wear the control liner ( a medipro PROTECT liner) for the first two weeks and wear the medipro RELAX liner the last two weeks. Daily evaluations were made using a journal to catalogue, measure (on a scale of 1 to 10) and track their pain episodes during each two week phase. Evaluations covered the severity of the pain, time of day of pain episodes, physical issues, (i.e. nausea, sleep disturbances, stomach pain, etc.) lifestyle restrictions and any methods used to alleviate or fight the pain.

Participants in this product evaluation were approximately half male and half female with an average age of 62 years. Ten participants were above knee amputees and ten had below knee amputations. Findings reflect the feedback of 50% of the participants at the time of this writing and are summarized below:

RELAX liners are available exclusively through SPS. If you are interested in learning more about the RELAX liner or the product evaluation, please contact Customer Service at SPS by calling 800.767.7776 x 3.