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Updated: Oct 22, 2025
Real-time Video Projection in an MRI for Characterization of Neural Correlates Associated with Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain
Published on: April 20, 2019
Effectiveness of Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Hui-Min Xie1, Ke-Xue Zhang2, Shuo Wang3
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijng.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of mirror therapy (MT) for phantom limb pain (PLP).
Data Sources:
PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, CNKI, and WanFang Data were used to search for studies published up to March 31, 2021.
Study Selection:
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the pain intensity of MT for PLP were performed. A total of 2094 articles were found. Among them, 10 were eligible for the final analysis.
Data Extraction:
The quality of the RCTs was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale by 2 independent reviewers. Outcome data were pooled according to follow-up intervals (1, 3, 6, and 12mo). Duration times were used as a basis for distinguishing subgroups. The primary evaluation was by visual analog scale. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of studies.
Data Synthesis:
Meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in pain in the MT group vs the control group within 1 month (I2=0%; standardized mean difference [SMD]=-0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.79 to -0.13; P = .007). The patients with pain for longer than 1 year benefited more from MT (I2=0%; SMD=-0.46; 95% CI, -0.85 to -0.07; P = .02).
Conclusions:
MT has beneficial effects for patients with PLP in the short-term, as evidenced by their improved pain scores. There was no evidence that MT had a long-term effect, but that may be a product of limited data. For patients with long-term PLP, MT may be an effective treatment.
