Article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical aspects of mirror
therapy (MT) interventions after stroke, phantom limb pain and complex regional
pain syndrome. A systematic literature search of the Cochrane Database of
controlled trials, PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PEDro, RehabTrials and Rehadat, was made by two investigators independently (A.S.R. and M.J.). No
restrictions were made regarding study design and type or localization of stroke,
complex regional pain syndrome and amputation. Only studies that had MT given as
a long-term treatment were included. Two authors (A.S.R. and S.M.B.)
independently assessed studies for eligibility and risk of bias by using the
Amsterdam-Maastricht Consensus List. Ten randomized trials, seven patient series
and four single-case studies were included. The studies were heterogeneous
regarding design, size, conditions studied and outcome measures. Methodological
quality varied; only a few studies were of high quality. Important clinical
aspects, such as assessment of possible side effects, were only insufficiently
addressed. For stroke there is a moderate quality of evidence that MT as an
additional intervention improves recovery of arm function, and a low quality of
evidence regarding lower limb function and pain after stroke. The quality of
evidence in patients with complex regional pain syndrome and phantom limb pain is
also low. Firm conclusions could not be drawn. Little is known about which
patients are likely to benefit most from MT, and how MT should preferably be
applied. Future studies with clear descriptions of intervention protocols should
focus on standardized outcome measures and systematically register adverse
effects.

Langue : ANGLAIS