Helping researchers in their quest for information can only benefit our knowledge of reasons for upper limb differences and prosthetic’s that will enhance lives. We encourage our members to take part in surveys and register for ‘bionic arms’.
Currently we are working with:
Project – Register For A Hero Arm
Register here: Hero Arm is a 3D-printed multi-grip bionic arm for people with below elbow upper-limb differences, aged eight and above.
For more information visit Open Bionics

#ProjectLimitless aims to give every child who needs one access to a prosthetic arm. It is a bold ambition, but one that we are trying very hard to accomplish, with the help of some fantastic charities and amazing donors. In the UK, the project has already provided 100 children with a prosthetic arm, through partnerships with charities including Douglas Bader Foundation, Reach, Limbbo and Limb Power – but we know there are many more who need one.’
Register your child for Project limitless today
Nate, Alex Lewis chatted with Alistair Greener as part of our Reach Insights #NoLimits series, click the link to watch!
Project: : Motor skills in one-handed children
To learn more about the project download Bold Kids info sheet for motor skills or go to their website: www.boldkids.co.uk
How do children with a limb difference undertake everyday tasks? Researchers from Durham University Dr Dorothy Cowie and Laura Bird. Contact: email boldkids@durham.ac.uk or phone 0191 334 3270/07540888239.
Project: Feedback on a 3D printable prosthetic
To learn more about the project download: Project details Kate Walker
Recent graduate from Loughborough University Kate Walker.
Project: Prepmate kitchen equipment adaptation
To learn more about the project: Click here
Prepmate aims to enrich the lives of those with upper limb disabilities by providing them with a newfound sense of independence in the kitchen.
Drew Murray and Stephen Davies collaborate their voluntary efforts under the name of Team UnLimbited. Their R&D efforts include developing new devices, research into materials and functional improvements. All of their work is shared as open source for the benefit of all, for non-commercial use.
‘All the work we do is voluntary and recipient devices are provided for free, we fund the work ourselves and commit our own time to this cause.’
Boston Children’s Hospital have recently done some research in to children with upper limb differences.
Approximately one in every thousand children is born with a congenital upper limb difference. These conditions can include complete or partial absence of a limb, failure of fingers to separate, duplication of fingers, overgrowth and undergrowth as well as constriction ring syndrome. Along with the physical differences this presents as a child grows and develops, there can also be mental and emotional challenges.
For further information on upper limb differences including amniotic band syndrome and other possible related conditions please click the links.
Blue Heart Hero
Blue Heart Hero is an open platform for designers to share their ideas to help those with upper limb differences accomplish day-to-day tasks easier, they have created a hub to connect designers and those with upper limb differences, to build a library of 3D printable solutions for amputees’ challenges.
Their mission is to continue develop their open platform, collect crowdsourced 3D printable solutions and share it for free with those with upper limb difference.
3D downloadable printable solutions available include, cup strap, pen holder, nail clipper jig and others.
There has long been an awareness that there is a need to improve the delivery of obstetric news via ultrasound, but there have been few advances in practice. I believe this is because improvement in this area is challenging; the answers are not obvious and do not reside within any one person or
group. The current guidance document represents a collaborative endeavour towards tackling this challenge. It is designed for ultrasound practitioners and sonographers rather than lay audiences; however, it has been informed by a wide range of contributors, including health professionals, lay
experts, public health and policy experts and representatives from third-sector organisations. As such, I believe it reflects the preferences and needs of women and their partners.
Parent Satisfaction and Preferences when Dysmelia is Identified
“The provision of Sports and Activity Prostheses: The Impact on a Child/Young Person’s Activity Levels.”
A study at the University of Strathclyde is investigating how activity/sport prostheses affects the activity level of children and young people. If you or your child are under the age of 25 AND have an activity prosthesis, we are inviting you to take part in a short online questionnaire, where you can tell us how your activity prosthesis affects you in daily life and when taking part in activity. Please follow this link where you can find out more.
We worked with Plymouth University students to show an organisation that establishes and explores how culture and policy impact the lives and opportunities of young children and their families
We are at preliminary stages of working with a collaboration at University of Oxford on prostheses for children.
Published paper on Being the parent of a child with limb difference who has
been provided with an artificial limb: An interpretative phenomenological
analysis: limb_difference_author_accepted_manuscript
Are you a person aged 18 years or older, WITH OR WITHOUT LIMB DIFFERENCE?
Are you interested in understanding more about the psychology of living with limb difference? Would you like to participate in research studies to support research on limb difference? Are you looking for an online platform where to find scientific articles on limb difference research and post your questions? If you answered YES
VISIT OUR WEBSITE (https://sites.google.com/view/researchforlimbless) on
Scientific Research for the Limbless Community for more information & SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR STUDIES HERE: https://sites.google.com/view/researchforlimbless/become-a-participant!
Parent online survey results summary
A summary of the findings from my recent online survey research study exploring the experiences of parents/carers with appearance affecting condition and injuries. Thank you so much for your support in advertising this study over the summer. In total over 200 parents took part and their responses have been so valuable in understanding the experiences and support needs of parents and carers. This survey is part of a larger series of projects, all focussed on developing support for parents and carers. Using what we have learnt so far, we will now be moving onto designing and developing new support materials for parents and carers.