"Home-Based Mirror Therapy with Individual Set of Exercises Improves Phantom Limb Pain and Phantom Limb Sensation of Lower Extremity Amputees"

Abstract

Background:The phantom limb phenomenon (PLP) usually occurs after a lower limb amputation with the rate about 85%. Mirror therapy is considered a safety, economical and effective procedure in the treatment of PLP.Objectives: To identify the improvement of PLP and depression condition of lower limb amputees by home-based mirror therapy with individual set of exercises Methods: The lower limb amputees suffering PLP that did not reduced after a month after amputation were recruited. Each patient was trained a set of exercises which was based on his/her preference. He/ she would practice the set at home with an individual mirror for 4 weeks. The patients were scored the intensity of pain ( by VAS) and noted the total daily time experiencing pain and pain killer before and after finishing the therapy program. CESD was used to assess depression Results: From January 2020 to August 2020 We conducted a pilot study with 20 patients, most of them were men (90%).The main cause of amputation was trauma (80%). The duration and intensity of phantom limb pain or phantom limb sensation significantly reduced after the interval of performing home-based mirror therapy. The CESD score remarkably dipped after a month (p <0.05). The effectiveness continued to be improve or stable at the end of the study. Conclusion:Mirror therapy should be applied soon to amputees after amputation of the lower limb.