Efficacy of mirror therapy, motor imagery, and visual feedback in the treatment of phantom limb pain after amputation: an updated systematic review.

Introduction: Phantom limb pain affects 50 percent to 85 percent of patients who have had their limbs amputated, lowering their quality of life. Clinical therapies for central pain, such as mirror therapy, motor imagery, or visual feedback, might help amputee patients suffering from phantom limb pain. Objectives: To provide a general review of the efficacy of various approaches for treating phantom limb discomfort in amputee patients. Methods: The following databases were used for a computerized literature search up to March 2022: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The modified Jadad score is utilized to measure study quality in this research. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines were followed while conducting this systematic review. Results: In all, 15 papers matched our inclusion criteria, with 5 receiving a low study quality rating and 10 receiving a good study quality rating. All the studies revealed a considerable decrease in pain; however, the patients and techniques varied. Conclusion: Mirror therapy, motor imagery, and visual feedback can alleviate phantom limb pain. However, there is a lack of scientific data to support their efficacy. Future studies should use more powerful research methodologies to investigate these medicines' short- and long-term advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]