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. 2025 Mar-Apr;29(2):101165.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2024.101165. Epub 2025 Jan 23.

Examining heterogeneity and reporting of mirror therapy intervention for phantom limb pain: A scoping review

Matthieu Guémann  1 , Kevin Arribart  2
Affiliations

Examining heterogeneity and reporting of mirror therapy intervention for phantom limb pain: A scoping review

Matthieu Guémann et al. Braz J Phys Ther. 2025 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Background: Mirror therapy shows promise in the treatment of phantom limb pain but lacks robust evidence.

Objectives: To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review aiming to comprehensively explore the landscape of mirror therapy practice, gather details about the session content, and offer recommendations for future research.

Method: We searched seven databases for published work from 1995 to May 2023. Two independent reviewers selected, assessed, and extracted data from eligible articles. Articles, regardless of study design, were considered eligible if they investigated mirror therapy as an intervention for phantom limb pain.

Results: A total of 44 articles were included, comprising 16 randomized control trials, 14 prospective cohort studies, 15 case reports, and 3 protocols. These studies collectively involved 942 patients, with male patients representing 70 % of the participants. Lower limb amputation, primarily attributed to trauma, accounted for 88 % of the included patients. Pain intensity was predominantly assessed by a visual analog scale (61 %). However, there was a notable absence of detailed descriptions regarding mirror therapy sessions, particularly concerning the number of exercises, duration per exercise, and repetitions. Typically, sessions lasted 15 min each, conducted once daily. The exercises primarily focused on motor exercises targeting the distal part of the limb.

Conclusion: The practice of mirror therapy was characterized by poor description, showed significant heterogeneity, and a lack of standardized protocols, which contributes to an overall low level of evidence. Addressing these gaps in practice description and standardization is crucial for improving reproducibility and strengthening the evidence base for the prescription of mirror therapy.

Keywords: Amputation; Mirror Therapy; Phantom limb pain; Scoping review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1:
Fig. 1
PRISMA 2009 flow diagram. PubMed: 128; Science direct: 562; Pedro: 55; Cochrane Library: 301; Clinical Trial: 20; Scopus: 829.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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