A team of researchers, including Max Ortiz-Catalan, PhD, studied the experiences of people with phantom limb pain who underwent phantom motor imagery (PMI) treatment for pain relief. PMI uses visual feedback in an augmented reality and virtual reality environment. The participants described the treatment as mentally demanding but viewed it as a worthwhile option when they experienced noticeable improvements.
The study consisted of semistructured interviews one month after PMI treatment among eight Dutch participants (mean age 63 years, 50 percent female). The results indicated that most participants experienced better control of the phantom limb after PMI treatment. Phantom limb pain decreased in most participants, enhancing mood, sleep, and daily participation. Some experienced pain recurrence following treatment and reported limited knowledge about phantom limb pain.
The authors concluded that PMI treatment has the potential to reduce phantom limb pain, and consequently improve quality of life, but they recommended intermittent PMI sessions after completing the initial treatment for lasting effect.
The open-access study, “Experiences of individuals who underwent phantom motor imagery treatment to decrease phantom limb pain and the consequences on their daily functioning,” was published in Disability and Rehabilitation.
