Beyond the Prosthetic - Why Emotional Support Matters in Rehabilitation
When a child receives a new prosthetic hand, the technical fitting is just the beginning of their journey. At Universal Limbs, we’ve learned that successful prosthetic adaptation requires addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of limb loss - especially for children who have experienced trauma in conflict zones like Gaza.
Research consistently shows that psychosocial support significantly improves prosthetic acceptance and long-term use. A comprehensive study by Abu Hamad et al. (2023) found that Palestinian children receiving trauma-informed rehabilitation showed dramatically higher rates of functional independence despite ongoing hostilities. This isn’t surprising when we consider that losing a limb affects not just physical capability, but also identity, self-image, and emotional wellbeing.
Our psychosocial workshops address multiple dimensions of loss that children experience. Beyond the obvious physical loss, children grieve changes to how they express themselves, interact with objects, and participate in cultural activities. For Palestinian children, this might mean adapting traditional crafts, prayer movements, or ways of showing affection to family members.
The workshops create structured space for children to process these changes while building practical skills. We’ve found that when children have permission to grieve what they’ve lost, they’re more open to discovering what remains possible. Our approach draws on Palestinian cultural concepts like sumud (steadfastness) while incorporating evidence-based trauma therapy techniques.
What makes our program unique is recognizing that grief and hope can coexist. Children don’t need to “get over” their losses to successfully use prosthetics - they need support to honor what they’ve lost while building new possibilities. This dual approach, supported by research from Stroebe & Schut’s dual process model of grief, creates more sustainable rehabilitation outcomes.
For families supporting children through this journey, our workshops provide tools for the entire family system. Because when a child loses a limb, the whole family needs support to adapt together.