{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]],"date-time":"2026-07-21T06:04:50Z","timestamp":1784613890149,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]],"date-time":"2026-07-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784592000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Rehabil. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Phantom limb telescoping, the perceived shortening of a missing limb, remains an underexplored phenomenon despite its relatively frequent occurrence after limb loss. Existing literature has focused on quantitative or neurophysiological approaches, with limited attention to lived experience. This study examined first-person accounts of telescoping among 12 participants with limb loss (11 men, one woman; mean age 50.1 years; mean 3.9 years post-amputation) using semi-structured interviews. The aim was to explore the lived experience of phantom limb telescoping among people who have undergone limb amputation, including their interpretations of telescoping, the emotional responses it evoked, and its impact on post-amputation adaptation. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis within a constructionist framework. Four themes were identified:\n                    <jats:italic>(1) Heterogeneity in the experience of telescoping, (2) Telescoping as unusual but not distressing, (3) Social and emotional consequences of living with telescoping,<\/jats:italic>\n                    and\n                    <jats:italic>(4) Adaptation to an altered phantom limb.<\/jats:italic>\n                    Participants described telescoping as unusual but not distressing. Participants described feeling more concerned by factors related to post-amputation adjustment or phantom limb pain than the sensation of having a shorter phantom limb. Participants reported rarely discussing telescoping with social supports or healthcare providers. Their experience of telescoping varied in onset and presentation and were shaped by psychological and social factors. These findings support the suggestion that patients may benefit from education on telescoping soon after amputation and open discussions with healthcare providers to normalize telescoping and reduce feelings of uncertainty surrounding this sensation. Integrating patient-centered qualitative insights into rehabilitation may better address the full spectrum of post-amputation experiences.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fresc.2026.1747066","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]],"date-time":"2026-07-21T05:34:24Z","timestamp":1784612064000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The lived complexity of phantom limb telescoping: insights from a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Andrea","family":"Aternali","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, York University","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Heather","family":"Lumsden-Ruegg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, York University","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicole","family":"Dimitrova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, York University","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lora","family":"Appel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Policy & Management, York University","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sander L.","family":"Hitzig","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"St. John\u2019s Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]},{"name":"Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]},{"name":"Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]},{"name":"Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amanda L.","family":"Mayo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"St. John\u2019s Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]},{"name":"Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joel","family":"Katz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, York University","place":["Toronto, Ontario, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2168","DOI":"10.1172\/JCI94003","article-title":"A review of current theories and treatments for phantom limb pain","volume":"128","author":"Collins","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Clin Invest"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1002\/ejp.1657","article-title":"Prevalence and incidence of phantom limb pain, phantom limb sensations and telescoping in amputees: a systematic rapid review","volume":"25","author":"Stankevicius","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur J Pain"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3697","DOI":"10.1016\/j.injury.2022.09.018","article-title":"Phantom limb syndrome: assessment of psychiatric and medical comorbidities associated with phantom pain in 44,028 below knee amputees","volume":"53","author":"Hogan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Injury"},{"key":"B4","first-page":"416","article-title":"D\u2019une hallucination du toucher (h\u00e9t\u00e9rotopie subjective des extr\u00e9mit\u00e9s) particuli\u00e8re \u00e0 certains amput\u00e9s","volume":"4","author":"Gu\u00e9niot","year":"1868","journal-title":"J Physiol L\u2019Homme Anim"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.4103\/0973-1075.197944","article-title":"Prevalence of phantom limb pain, stump pain, and phantom limb sensation among the amputated cancer patients in India: a prospective, observational study","volume":"23","author":"Ahmed","year":"2017","journal-title":"Indian J Palliat Care"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpain.2021.09.003","article-title":"The prevalence and characteristics of phantom limb pain and non-painful phantom phenomena in a nationwide survey of 3,374 unilateral limb amputees","volume":"23","author":"Diers","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pain"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"791","DOI":"10.1348\/000712610X492558","article-title":"Corporeal awareness and proprioceptive sense of the phantom","volume":"101","author":"Giummarra","year":"2010","journal-title":"Br J Psychol"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"561","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmn.2014.10.006","article-title":"A clinical evaluation of postamputation phenomena including phantom limb pain after lower limb amputation in dysvascular patients","volume":"16","author":"Richardson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Pain Manag Nurs"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1097\/01.ajp.0000177793.01415.bd","article-title":"Incidence of phantom phenomena including phantom limb pain 6 months after major lower limb amputation in patients with peripheral vascular disease","volume":"22","author":"Richardson","year":"2006","journal-title":"Clin J Pain"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1419762","DOI":"10.3389\/fpain.2025.1419762","article-title":"Pain without presence: a narrative review of the pathophysiological landscape of phantom limb pain","volume":"6","author":"Wu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Pain Res"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/S0304-3940(01)01606-8","article-title":"Perceptual phenomena after unilateral arm amputation: a pre-post-surgical comparison","volume":"302","author":"Gr\u00fcsser","year":"2001","journal-title":"Neurosci Lett"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2004.03.013","article-title":"Neuroelectric source imaging of steady-state movement-related cortical potentials in human upper extremity amputees with and without phantom limb pain","volume":"110","author":"Karl","year":"2004","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1515\/sjpain-2021-0139","article-title":"Characteristics of phantom limb pain in US civilians and service members","volume":"22","author":"Griffin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Scand J Pain"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1037\/h0041681","article-title":"Extended and telescoped phantom limbs in unilateral amputees","volume":"66","author":"Weiss","year":"1963","journal-title":"J Abnorm Soc Psychol"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3959(83)90097-0","article-title":"Phantom limb, phantom pain and stump pain in amputees during the first 6 months following limb amputation","volume":"17","author":"Jensen","year":"1983","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sjpain.2009.09.001","article-title":"Adult limb and breast amputees\u2019 experience and descriptions of phantom phenomena-A qualitative study","volume":"1","author":"Bjorkman","year":"2010","journal-title":"Scand J Pain"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1177\/2049463715590884","article-title":"Perceptions of phantom limb pain in lower limb amputees and its effect on quality of life: a qualitative study","volume":"10","author":"Trevelyan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Br J Pain"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1159\/000284594","article-title":"Experiences of phantom limb sensations in dreams","volume":"22","author":"Frank","year":"1989","journal-title":"Psychopathology"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.3389\/fnbot.2020.00039","article-title":"Neuromusculoskeletal arm prostheses: personal and social implications of living with an intimately integrated bionic arm","volume":"14","author":"Middleton","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Neurorobot"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1409352","DOI":"10.3389\/fpain.2024.1409352","article-title":"Case report: reduction in post-amputation phantom limb pain intensity accompanying the onset of phantom limb telescoping","volume":"5","author":"Aternali","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Pain Res"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1755884","DOI":"10.3389\/fpain.2026.1755884","article-title":"Phantom limb telescoping in individuals with limb loss: links to anxiety, depression, and pain-related measures","volume":"7","author":"Aternali","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front Pain Res"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042","article-title":"Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups","volume":"19","author":"Tong","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int J Qual Health Care"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1097\/XEB.0000000000000062","article-title":"Qualitative research synthesis","volume":"13","author":"Lockwood","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Evid Based Healthc"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2648.1997.t01-25-00999.x","article-title":"Sampling in qualitative research. Purposeful and theoretical sampling; merging or clear boundaries?","volume":"26","author":"Coyne","year":"1997","journal-title":"J Adv Nurs"},{"key":"B26","first-page":"105","article-title":"Competing paradigms in qualitative research","volume":"2","author":"Guba","year":"1994","journal-title":"Handb Qual Res"},{"key":"B27","first-page":"445","volume-title":"Perfectly Healthy, but Dead\": The Myth of Inter-rater reliability","author":"Morse","year":"1997"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"545","DOI":"10.1188\/14.ONF.545-547","article-title":"The use of triangulation in qualitative research","volume":"41","author":"Carter","year":"2014","journal-title":"Oncol Nurs Forum"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"407","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0404.1984.tb07808.x","article-title":"Non-painful phantom limb phenomena in amputees: incidence, clinical characterstics and temporal course","volume":"70","author":"Jensen","year":"1984","journal-title":"Acta Neurol Scand"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainresrev.2007.01.009","article-title":"Central mechanisms in phantom limb perception: the past, present and future","volume":"54","author":"Giummarra","year":"2007","journal-title":"Brain Res Rev"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"600","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2012.00600","article-title":"The role of the environment in eliciting phantom-like sensations in non-amputees","volume":"3","author":"Lewis","year":"2013","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1002\/pmrj.12750","article-title":"Body image and perception among adults with and without phantom limb pain","volume":"15","author":"Beisheim-Ryan","year":"2023","journal-title":"PM&R"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-843X.87.8.377","article-title":"The relation between limb dominance, acceptance of disability, and the phantom limb phenomenon","volume":"87","author":"Almagor","year":"1978","journal-title":"J Abnorm Psychol"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"399","DOI":"10.1037\/bul0000473","article-title":"Ignored, dismissed, and minimized: understanding the harmful consequences of invalidation in health care\u2014a systematic meta-synthesis of qualitative research","volume":"151","author":"Bontempo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Psychol Bull"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1080\/14461242.2024.2398250","article-title":"Just because i\u2019m smiling doesn\u2019t mean i\u2019m not in pain\u2019: navigating the layered stigma of chronic pain and suicidality in social worlds","volume":"34","author":"LaForge","year":"2025","journal-title":"Health Sociol Rev"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1035","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2003.12.001","article-title":"I am not the kind of woman who complains of everything\u2019: illness stories on self and shame in women with chronic pain","volume":"59","author":"Werner","year":"2004","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2501","DOI":"10.1080\/10410236.2022.2081046","article-title":"It\u2019s all in your head\u201d: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research about disenfranchising talk experienced by female patients with chronic overlapping pain conditions","volume":"38","author":"Hintz","year":"2023","journal-title":"Health Commun"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"837","DOI":"10.1080\/09638280410001708869","article-title":"Psychosocial adjustment to lower-limb amputation: a review","volume":"26","author":"Horgan","year":"2004","journal-title":"Disabil Rehabil"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e63","DOI":"10.1017\/S146342362000064X","article-title":"Struggling for normality: experiences of patients with diabetic lower extremity amputations and post-amputation wounds in primary care","volume":"21","author":"Zhu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prim Health Care Res Dev"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70003","DOI":"10.1111\/bjhp.70003","article-title":"Can current post-traumatic growth models capture the lived experience of life with a fluctuating chronic illness? Towards a new model","volume":"30","author":"Murphy","year":"2025","journal-title":"Br J Health Psychol"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0310495","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0310495","article-title":"Traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth in individuals who have had COVID-19: the mediating effect of resilience and moderating effect of psychological flexibility","volume":"19","author":"T\u00fcrk","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"P158","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/59.4.P158","article-title":"Emotional well-being in recently bereaved widows: a dynamical systems approach","volume":"59","author":"Bisconti","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1080\/03093640802015912","article-title":"Re-defining self after limb loss: a psychological perspective","volume":"32","author":"Grobler","year":"2008","journal-title":"Prosthet Orthot Int"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2049","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732320925794","article-title":"Narratives of recovery over the first year after major lower limb loss","volume":"30","author":"Sanders","year":"2020","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"B45","author":"Cole","year":"2024"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fresc.2026.1747066\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]],"date-time":"2026-07-21T05:34:25Z","timestamp":1784612065000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fresc.2026.1747066\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]]},"references-count":45,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fresc.2026.1747066"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fresc.2026.1747066","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-6861"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-6861","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,21]]},"article-number":"1747066"}}