Effectiveness of mirror therapy, motor imagery, and virtual feedback on phantom limb pain following amputation: A systematic review

Background: Phantom limb pain is reported in 50%–85% of people with amputation. Clinical interventions in treating central pain, such as mirror therapy, motor imagery, or virtual visual feedback, could redound in benefits to amputee patients with phantom limb pain. Objectives: To provide an overview of the effectiveness of different techniques for treating phantom limb pain in amputee patients. Study design: Systematic review. Methods: A computerized literature search up to April 2017 was performed using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PEDro, EBSCOhost, and Cochrane Plus. Methodological quality and internal validity score of each study were assessed using PEDro scale. For data synthesis, qualitative methods from the Cochrane Back Review Group were applied. Results: In all, 12 studies met our inclusion criteria, where 9 were rated as low methodological quality and 3 rated moderate quality. All studies showed a significant reduction in pain, but there was heterogeneity among subjects and methodologies and any high-quality clinical trial (PEDro score ≤8; internal validity score ≤5) was not found. Conclusion: Mirror therapy, motor imaginary, and virtual visual feedback reduce phantom limb pain; however, there is limited scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness. Future studies should include designs with more solid research methods, exploring short- and long-term benefits of these therapies. Clinical relevance This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of mirror therapy, motor imagery, and virtual visual feedback on phantom limb pain, summarizing the currently published trials and evaluating the research quality. Although these interventions have positive benefits in phantom limb pain, there is still a lack of evidence for supporting their effectiveness.

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Veidrodžio terapijos reikšmė motorinei bei sensorinei funkcijai, skausminiam sindromui bei asocijuotos galvos smegenų žievės reorganizacijai po persirgto insulto

Sveikatos mokslai ◽

10.5200/sm-hs.2016.115 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 189-194

Author(s):

Monika Žilionytė ◽

Jurgita Savickaitė ◽

Andrius Kederys ◽

Lina Varžaitytė

Keyword(s):

Visual Feedback ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Mirror Neurons ◽

Recovery Of Function ◽

Phantom Limb Pain ◽

Phantom Limb ◽

Mirror Therapy ◽

Limb Pain ◽

Mirror Visual Feedback ◽

Mirror Movement

Tyrimo tikslas – apžvelgti patikimais įrodymais pagrįstą literatūrą apie veidrodinės terapijos (VT) efektyvumą pacientams, persirgusiems galvos smegenų insultu. Tyrimo medžiaga ir metodai. Atliekant sisteminę apžvalgą, mokslinių straipsnių paieška vykdyta duomenų bazėse: PubMed, BioMedCentral, Tylor&amp;Francis, CohraneLibrary, ScienceDirect. Mokslinių straipsnių paieška atlikta pagal kiekvienai duomenų bazei pritaikytą specialią paieškos strategiją. Paieškai buvo panaudoti šie raktažodžiai: „mirror therapy“, „rehabilitation“, „stroke“, „upper limb“, „recovery of function“, „mirror movement“, „phantom limb pain „, „mirror visual feedback“, „mirror neurons system“. Į sisteminę apžvalgą įtraukti anglų kalba 2008–2016 metais publikuoti atsitiktinių imčių kontroliuojami arba kontroliuojami prieš ir po tyrimai, kuriuose buvo vertinama VT įtaka paralyžiuotos galūnės motorinei ir sensorinei funkcijai, skausmo intensyvumui bei asocijuotos galvos smegenų žievės reorganizacijai. Tyrimo rezultatai. Į sisteminę apžvalgą įtraukta 11 tyrimų. Tyrimuose buvo suformuotos dvi grupės: tiriamųjų, kuriems buvo taikyta standartinė bei VT, ir kontrolinė grupė, kuriai buvo taikoma tik standartinė terapija. Daugelyje tyrimų VT taikyta vieną mėnesį. Rezultatai buvo vertinami prieš taikytą terapiją ir po jos. Apžvelgus visus šiuos 11 straipsnių stebime, kad tose tiriamųjų grupėse, kuriose naudojama VT, ženkliai pagerėja pacientų paralyžiuotos galūnės motorinė funkcija, padidėja vikrumas, sumažėja skausmas. Išvados. VT didina smegenų aktyvumą ipsilateralinėje motorinėje žievėje, somatosensorinėje zonoje, skatina asocijuotos žievės reorganizaciją, taip pat ji padeda pasiekti geresnių rezultatų pacientams, patyrusiems nedominuojančio pusrutulio insultą, sumažina persirgus insultu atsiradusį skausmą bei padidina po insulto sumažėjusį galūnių vikrumą. VT yra veiksminga ne tik gydant ūmiu ir poūmiu insultu, tačiau ir lėtiniu galvos smegenų insultu sergančius pacientus.

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Effectiveness of Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1016/j.apmr.2021.07.810 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hui-Min Xie ◽

Ke-Xue Zhang ◽

Shuo Wang ◽

Ning Wang ◽

Na Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Phantom Limb Pain ◽

Phantom Limb ◽

Mirror Therapy ◽

Limb Pain

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Effects of mirror therapy on phantom limb sensation and phantom limb pain in amputees: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/02692155211027332 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026921552110273

Author(s):

Fengyi Wang ◽

Rengang Zhang ◽

Jiaqi Zhang ◽

Dinggen Li ◽

Yu Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Phantom Limb Pain ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Phantom Limb ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Mirror Therapy ◽

Limb Pain ◽

Grade Approach

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of mirror therapy on phantom limb sensation and phantom limb pain in amputees. Data sources: Nine electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycInfo, PreQuest, PEDro) were searched from their inception to May 10th, 2021. Methods: Two authors independently selected relevant studies and extracted the data. The effect sizes were calculated under a random-effects model meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test. The risk of bias was evaluated by the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the methodological quality was appraised by the PEDro scale. The GRADE approach was applied to assess the confidence of the effect. Results: A total of 11 RCTs involving 491 participants were included in this review and nine RCTs involving 372 participants were included in meta-analysis. The quality of these studies was from poor to good with scores ranging from 2 to 8 points according to PEDro scale. The pooled SMD showed that mirror therapy reduced the pain with a large effect size (−0.81; 95% CI = −1.36 to −0.25; P = 0.005; I2 = 82%; n = 372) compared with other methods (four covered mirror, one phantom exercise, three mental visualization, one sensorimotor exercise, one transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, one tactile stimuli). The quality of evidence for the outcome pain intensity was determined to be fair according to GRADE approach. Conclusion: There is fair-quality evidence that MT is beneficial for reducing phantom limb pain.

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