Background/Significance: Evidence suggests prosthesis use and prosthetic embodiment may
affect balance confidence, fear of falling, and incidence of falls in individuals with upper limb
loss or difference (ULL/D). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship
of prosthesis use and embodiment with balance confidence, fear of falling, and incidence of falls
(fallers versus non-fallers) in persons with ULL/D. Methods: Participants completed the survey
online or over the telephone. A convenience sample was recruited from several sites that targeted
the study population. Results: Eighty-four participants were included in the study. A nonsignificant
negligible relationship was found between frequency of prosthesis use and balance
confidence as well as with fear of falling. A non-significant weak relationship was found
between prosthesis embodiment and balance confidence and also with fear of falling for
individuals with unilateral and individuals with bilateral ULL/D. Analyses found a weak
relationship between embodiment and frequency of prosthesis use in individuals with unilateral
ULL/D (rs = .49, p < .001) and a strong relationship for individuals with bilateral ULL/D (rs =
.72, p < .001). A significant difference was found between frequent fallers and non-fallers for
balance confidence (p = .002) and fear of falling (p < .001). Discussion/Conclusion: Frequency
of prosthesis use was associated with embodiment of the prosthesis; however, neither frequency
of prosthesis use nor embodiment influenced the incidence of falls. Balance confidence scores
were lower while scores for fear of falling were higher for fallers compared to non-fallers. This
suggests these factors may be useful to identify potential fall risk in individuals with ULL/D.