The effects of mirror therapy, motor imagery and action observation on pain in neurological conditions

Abstract

The effects of mirror therapy, motor imagery and action observation on pain in neurological conditions. The included pathologies in this review are CRPS after stroke, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s Disease. Mirror therapy is an effective intervention to reduce pain in CRPS after stroke. A small study proved its pain reducing effects on spinal cord injury patients. The evidence for motor imagery is contradictory in SCI patients, some studies claim it reduces pain, while others state it could evoke pain. Graded motor imagery and virtually enhanced mirror therapy are both shown to be successful for reducing pain in CRPS after stroke patients. While virtually enhanced mirror therapy has pain reducing effects on spinal cord injury patients. New studies should be done to conclude the effect of mirror therapy, (graded) motor imagery on other neurological populations such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury.