Mirror therapy in post amputation patients with phantom limb pain: a mapping study (original) (raw)

Objective: One of the complications in patients after limb amputation is phantom pain (PP) in the missing limb. Mirror therapy (MT) is a non-pharmacological approach to PP. The objective of the study is to describe and assess possible applications, effectiveness, practicability, and international experience with MT in patients with PP after limb amputation. Methods: A descriptive mapping study that analyses, compares, and clusters the content of 22 relevant studies. The search was performed between 2000 and 2017 using the keywords and their combinations in the following databases: EBSCO, PsychINFO, PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, including metasearch engines. Results: The specificities of PP after the application of MT in post amputation patients vary by the location of the amputated limb. MT alleviates PP in patients after amputation of the upper limb, lower limb, as well as in mixed groups (after amputation of the upper limb or lower limb); virtual MT is considered an alternative approach. MT remains a rather experimental therapeutic modality aimed at patients, where other attempts to alleviate PP have failed. Regarding the fact that MT is frequently modified and combined with other approaches (including various indications), the effectiveness of MT cannot be fully generalized. The main finding is the evidence of a short-term effect of MT on decreasing the intensity of PP. Conclusions: Although MT is a relatively new phenomenon compared with other therapies, approaches and interventions, it is well known in foreign countries, and the range of indication is increasing. For MT to be generally spread and acknowledged, further research is needed together with a transfer of knowledge to teams providing comprehensive care to these patients. The outcomes of the mapping study will be used for a detailed analysis of the issue in the Czech Republic, where MT is used rarely and as an experimental additional therapy (particularly in occupational therapy).