Mirror therapy can alleviate phantom limb pain from "summary" of Phantoms in the Brain by V. S. Ramachandran
Ramachandran discusses a fascinating technique that has shown promise in alleviating phantom limb pain. This method involves the use of mirrors to create the illusion that the missing limb is still present and functioning. By placing a mirror vertically in front of the patient so that it reflects the intact limb, the brain is tricked into perceiving a reflection of the missing limb. This visual feedback helps to rewire the brain's faulty circuits that are responsible for phantom limb pain. Mirror therapy capitalizes on the brain's ability to create new connections and adapt to changes in sensory input. When patients move their intact limb while observing its reflection in the mirror, the brain receives visual feedback that suggests the missing limb is also moving. This visual input helps to reduce the discrepancy between the brain's motor commands and sensory feedback, ultimately reducing the sensations of pain and discomfort as...
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