Mirror box therapy is treatment that uses visual feedback with a mirror box as a technique for improving pain and movement in the hand or arm following stroke, phantom pain, complex regional pain syndrome and other limb injuries. Mirror box therapy is only one part of the process used to treat chronic pain.
How to use a Mirror Box
The patient places their affected hand into the mirror box so it is hidden from view. The unaffected hand is placed in front of the mirror so that its reflection gives the illusion it is the affected hand moving. All jewelry must be removed to create an effective illusion. The patient then looks into the mirror while they perform different movements and exercises with the unaffected hand, giving the illusion of the injured hand moving well and without pain. After a period of time observing the movement of the unaffected hand in the mirror, the patient will start to perform movements with both hands, within their tolerance. The effectiveness of the 'brain training' is enhanced by varying the context to include many other sensations such as sound, smell, different emotions, environments etc whilst performing mirror box training.
How a Mirror Box Works
Mirror box therapy has been shown to stimulate the 'mirror neuron system'. These mirror neurons account for 20% of all neurons in the brain and give you the ability to differentiate between the left and right sides of your body. The observation of movement in what your brain thinks is your right or left hand stimulates the same neuron's that would fire if that movement were actually occurring. This helps to develop the neural pathways involved in pain free movement without actually moving the painful limb.
To find out more about how our hand therapists at Bayside Hand Therapy can help you to recover from painful hand conditions, call us today on 33967798 or book online below.
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