The Power of Choice: 74% of VA Upper-Limb Amputees Choose Body-Powered Devices

Blog by Marins Med

When envisioning modern prosthetic arms, many picture advanced myoelectric devices that respond to muscle signals, offering a semblance of natural movement. However, real-world choices among Veterans tell a different story.

A study by the Department of Veterans Affairs revealed that 74% of upper-limb amputee Veterans opt for body-powered prostheses over their myoelectric counterparts. This preference persists even when users have full access to various prosthetic options, indicating a deliberate choice based on functionality and reliability. (VA Research Currents, 2020)

Why Body-Powered Prostheses Remain a Preferred Choice

1. Durability and Reliability
Body-powered devices are known for their robustness. They can withstand rigorous daily activities, making them suitable for users who engage in physically demanding tasks.

2. Sensory Feedback
Some body-powered devices offer users direct feedback through the harness and cable system, providing better awareness of the force applied during tasks.

3. Simplicity and Maintenance
With fewer electronic components, body-powered prostheses are easier to maintain and less prone to technical failures, ensuring consistent performance.

4. Cost-Effectiveness
Generally, body-powered devices are more affordable than myoelectric options, both in initial costs and maintenance, making them a practical choice for many.

The Case for Innovation in Body-Powered Design

The preference for body-powered prostheses among Veterans highlights an often-overlooked truth: the best prosthetic isn't always the most technologically complex. Instead, it's the one that offers reliability, control, and functionality in the user's daily life.

One reason body-powered devices remain relevant is proprioception — the body’s ability to sense movement and force. While not all body-powered prosthetics offer this, Voluntary Closing (VC) systems do. Devices like the Marins Med ProHensor, which adds a locking mechanism to this VC design, allow users to feel the grip, modulate force, and then lock it in, maintaining hold without additional effort. This functionality provides real-time feedback, boosts confidence, and reduces fatigue.

By comparison, most myoelectric prostheses lack this kind of direct input. They may offer more movement options, but without sensory feedback, users often feel disconnected from the task at hand.

At Marins, we believe innovation must serve the user — not just the feature list. That means improving what already works and designing for how people actually live, work, and play.

Conclusion

When Veterans are given full access to prosthetic technology, the majority choose body-powered terminal devices. That choice sends a clear message: performance, control, and dependability matter more than bells and whistles.

Body-powered prosthetics aren’t relics of the past. They are trusted tools — and with thoughtful innovation like VC&L systems, they’re only getting better.

We believe the future of prosthetics isn't about abandoning body-powered options — it’s about making them even more worth choosing.

Source:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "Study probes user satisfaction with upper-limb prostheses." VA Research Currents, February 2020. https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0220-Study-probes-user-satisfaction-with-upper-limb-prostheses.cfm