Telerehabilitation Using Mirror Therapy in Patients With Phantom Limb Pain Following Lower Limb Amputation.

Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Phantom Limb Pain

Treatments: Other: Physical/Occupational therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02076490

005-GW02-035

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall aim of this randomized controlled study is to investigate the effectiveness of mirror therapy supported by telerehabilitation on the intensity, duration and frequency of phantom limb pain and daily activities compared to traditional mirror therapy and sensomotor exercises without a mirror in patients following lower limb amputation.

Full description

Up to 75% of patients after amputation of an arm or leg suffer from chronic phantom limb pain that still is perceived in the missing limb, leading to limitations in daily activities and quality of life. The treatment of phantom limb pain is still challenging. Despite many different pharmacological interventions, the outcomes on the longer-term are in many cases not satisfying. Alternative, non-pharmacological interventions, such as mirror therapy, are gaining increased recognition in the treatment of phantom limb pain. In this context, telerehabilitation plays an important role to support long-term self-management and autonomy of these patients.

In the developmental phase of the project, a user-centred design is applied. Patients as well as physical and occupational therapists are interviewed concerning their preferences and needs with respect to the design and content of the telerehabilitation. Additionally, two focus groups with each five participants will be conducted. Subsequently, a prototype of the telerehabilitation will be developed based on user preferences, available evidence, expert opinion and already existing systems. This prototype will be tested on its usability and technical performance in phase three using the thinking-aloud-method and data logging. Accordingly, a multicenter, randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the telerehabilitation.

Enrollment: 105 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Lower limb amputation

2. At least since one week constant or intermittent phantom limb pain (PLP) with an average intensity of at least score 3 on the 11-point NRS and a minimum frequency of one episode of PLP per week.

3. Sufficient cognitive, communicative and motor functions to be able to use the telerehabilitation service, to concentrate for at least 15 minutes on the mirror image and to follow instructions and questionnaires; this is based on clinical judgment of recruiting physicians or therapists.

   Exclusion Criteria:

4. Duration of inpatient rehabilitation not long enough to ensure the 4-week clinical intervention phase.

5. Bilateral amputation, severe co-morbidity (e.g. stroke) or pain affecting the intact limb; this prevents engagement in the prescribed exercise programs of the study.

6. Severe psychiatric disorders that preclude patients from participating in the trial.

7. Intensive course of mirror therapy in the past (> 6 treatments during the last three months).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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105 participants in 3 patient groups

Software Supported Mirror Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

First experimental condition Physical/Occupational Therapy

Treatment:

Other: Physical/Occupational therapy

Traditional mirror therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Second experimental condition Physical/Occupational Therapy

Treatment:

Other: Physical/Occupational therapy

Sensomotor exercises without mirror

Active Comparator group

Description:

Control condition Physical/Occupational Therapy

Treatment:

Other: Physical/Occupational therapy