Mirror therapy effect on phantom pains and quality of life after lower extremity amputation

Amputation is one of the forms of physical disability, which changes how the person understands his body as whole (Clayair kt., 2012). The pain of the stump is common between patients after the amputation surgery and it often disappears after a few weeks pass after the surgery, also 60 – 80 proc. of people who had amputation surgery suffer from phantom pain (Nikolajsen L, 2010). Phantom pain can appear straight away after the amputation surgery. For some people level of this pain reduces over time, for others it stays the same or even increases (Hayes C, 2006). Mirror reflection therapy is often mentioned as one of the most effective methods for treating phantom pains, the main point of this therapy is creation of illusions of moving and touching between phantom and real limb (Wolff et al., 2011). Hypothesis of research: Mirror reflection therapy has a positive impact on reducing phantom pain after the amputation of lower extremities, increasing quality of life and improving function of the leg. Purpose of research: To evaluate effect of mirror reflection therapy on reducing phantom pain and increasing quality of life, for patients after amputation of lower extremities. Goals of research: 1. To establish effectiveness of mirror reflection therapy for reducing phantom pain and improving function of the leg after amputation of lower extremity. 2. To evaluate impact of mirror reflection therapy for individuals after amputation of lower extremity, their quality of life and factors that affect quality of life. 3. To establish connections between phantom pain, quality of life and factors that affect quality of life for person. Methods of research: The research was conducted at AB „Eglės“ sanatorium and AB „Ortopedijos technika“. 30 persons after amputations of lower extremity under knee joint participated in the research. Participant were divided in two groups: research group and control group, by chance. The research group consisted of 20 people and the control group consisted of 10 people. Both groups attended physical therapy sessions, the research group also got mirror reflection therapy. In the researh there were evaluated: quality of life by SF – 36 questionnaire, pain by pain analogy scale (SAS), range of motion using goniometer and stump volume using centimeter measuring tape, lower limb strength of muscles by Lovett. Results: The results of the research established that for patients who had mirror reflection therapy pain reduction was statistically significant (p<0,05), while comparing results with control group. Also comparing changes of quality of life the group, which had mirror reflection therapy showed statistically significant improvement of quality of life comparing to the group which didn’t receive the therapy (p<0,05). Furthermore, the research group got more statistically significant improvements in physical activity, reduction of restricted activities, because of physical ailments or emotional disorders, reduction of pain (p<0,05). Conclusions: 1. Mirror reflection therapy applied for people after amputation of lower extremity reduced phantom pain and increased range of motion of knee joint and muscle strength, the results were statistically significant (p<0,05). 2. Mirror reflection therapy increased quality of life, physical activity, emotional state, reduced pain and person’s restricted activities affected by physical and emotional state. The results were statistically significant (p<0,05). 3. It was established that there are statistically significant connection between phantom pain after amputation of lower extremity and poorer quality of life and physical activity (p