Mirror Therapy Prevents Phantom Limb Pains in Injured Soldiers

Newswise — A simple technique called mirror therapy seems effective in preventing phantom limb pain in patients undergoing amputation of an arm or leg, suggests a study in the February 2010 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

Dr. Steven R. Hanling and colleagues of Naval Medical Center, San Diego, describe the successful use of mirror therapy to prevent phantom pains in soldiers with severe leg injuries requiring amputation. "Although it may sound like 'hocus pocus,' this is one of many recent reports about the use of mirror therapy in veterans with injured limbs," comments Dr. Steven L. Shafer of Columbia University, Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia.

Mirror Exercises Let Brain Control, See and React to Healthy Limb

Phantom limb pains are a common and difficult problem after amputations—even though the injured limb is removed, the pain continues. "The pain pathways in the spinal cord and brain 'remember' the painful injury," says Dr. Shafer. "Because of this memory, the missing arm or leg continues to ache, sometimes severely so, long after the limb itself has been amputated."

Dr. Hanling and colleagues used mirror therapy in an attempt to prevent phantom pain in four soldiers requiring leg amputation because of combat injuries. In each case, amputation was necessary after extensive efforts to save the leg.

Before amputation surgery, the patients performed several sessions of mirror therapy. "In this form of therapy, patients sit with a mirror placed vertically between the legs and arms so that they are reflected in it," Dr. Shafer explains. The reflection in the mirror makes it look like the injured arm or leg is healthy and normal.

"Patients then observe and control their injured arm or leg in the mirror—but they are actually observing and controlling the reflected uninjured arm or leg," says Dr. Shafer. "The brain and spinal cord are visually tricked into believing that all of the arms and legs are intact and without pain." None of the four soldiers had major problems with phantom pain after amputation. Any episodes of phantom limb pain were brief and mild. Importantly, all patients were able to fully participate in their postoperative physical therapy program.

Mirror therapy appears to re-program the brain's pain circuits into thinking that the painful injury is no longer present, according to Dr. Shafer. "Removing the source of the pain may not let the brain forget this memory, but by controlling, seeing, and reacting to a healthy limb, the brain can be tricked into believing the limb has healed, reducing the risk of phantom limb pain when the injured limb is eventually amputated."

Previous studies have reported the use of mirror therapy in patients with phantom pain that does not respond to other treatments. Although more research is needed, the new results suggest that mirror therapy performed before amputation may prevent disabling phantom limb pain from developing in the first place.

Read the full study in Anesthesia & Analgesia

About the IARS

The International Anesthesia Research Society is a nonpolitical, not-for-profit medical society founded in 1925 to advance and support scientific research and education related to anesthesia, and to improve patient care through basic research. The IARS contributes nearly $1 million annually to fund anesthesia research; provides a forum for anesthesiology leaders to share information and ideas; maintains a worldwide membership of more 15,000 physicians, physician residents, and others with doctoral degrees, as well as health professionals in anesthesia-related practice; sponsors the SAFEKIDS initiative in partnership with the FDA; and publishes the monthly Anesthesia & Analgesia journal. Additional information about the society and the journal may be found at www.iars.org and www.anesthesia-analgesia.org.

About Anesthesia & Analgesia

Anesthesia & Analgesia was founded in 1922 and was issued bi-monthly until 1980, when it became a monthly publication. A&A is the leading journal for anesthesia clinicians and researchers and includes more than 500 articles annually in all areas related to anesthesia and analgesia, such as cardiovascular anesthesiology, patient safety, anesthetic pharmacology, and pain management. The journal is published on behalf of the IARS by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW), a division of Wolters Kluwer Health, a global provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry.