Use of Mirror Therapy for the Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain
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1
United States Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Wounded, Ill and Injured, United States
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2
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences,, Department of Neurology, United States
A debilitating effect of amputation is phantom limb pain, the painful sensation that the amputated limb is still present. This painful phenomenon is experienced by up to 85% of amputees and affects rehabilitation, prosthetic use, and quality of life. Previous studies have shown the ability of mirror therapy to relieve pain and cramping through case studies. We performed a sham-controlled, crossover trial demonstrating the efficacy of mirror therapy in treating this painful condition. In this therapy, subjects place a plane mirror parasagitally facing their intact limb. While moving the intact limb and viewing the movements in a mirror, the subject attempts to move his/her phantom limb in a similar manner. Control groups included a group trained in mental visualization as well as a group that performed the same movements with a covered mirror. Eighteen subjects (six in each group) completed the study. Utilizing this therapy for 15 minutes a day for four weeks resulted in a dramatic decrease in phantom limb pain, significantly more than with mental visualization (p=0.002) or covered mirror (p=0.04) therapy. Phantom limb pain also decreased in 8 of 9 patients (89%) who crossed over to mirror therapy from either the covered mirror or mental visualization groups (p=0.008). Mirror therapy can decrease phantom limb pain and offers insight into the possible etiologies.
Acknowledgements
Disclaimer:
The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the view of the United States Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.
Keywords:
amputee,
mirror therapy,
phantom limb pain
Conference:
Karolinska Institutet 200 years anniversary
Symposium on Traumatic Injuries in the Nervous System, Stockholm, Sweden, 15 Sep - 16 Sep, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Presentation
Topic:
Traumatic Injuries in the Nervous System
Citation:
Tsao
JW
(2010). Use of Mirror Therapy for the Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain.
Front. Neurol.
Conference Abstract:
Karolinska Institutet 200 years anniversary
Symposium on Traumatic Injuries in the Nervous System.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2010.56.00002
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Received:
16 Sep 2010;
Published Online:
21 Sep 2010.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Jack W Tsao, United States Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Wounded, Ill and Injured, Washington, DC, United States, jack.tsao@med.navy.mil