Eficácia da terapia do espelho na redução da dor fantasma em amputados: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Introduction: Phantom pain is perceived in a part of the body that has been amputated. Its cause is not fully clarified, reinforcing the need to investigate effective approaches for its management. Mirror therapy is a technique with the potential to reduce phantom pain through the visual illusion created by the reflection of the healthy limb’s movement in the mirror. Objectives: To discuss the effectiveness of mirror therapy both in isolation and in combination with other approaches, across different types of amputation. Methodology: The study followed an integrative literature review model, with searches carried out in the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and PubMed (National Library Of Medicine) databases. Clinical trials published between 2018 and 2025, written in Portuguese or English, available in full, free of charge, and adrdressing all predefined descriptors were included. After full reading of the articles, the sample was structured with five studies. Results: Most studies demonstratred a reduction in phantom pain with mirror therapy, whether used alone or combined with other therapeutic approaches. However, one of the studies did not find significant pain improvement, suggesting that the technique may not be effective in all cases, and that the sample characteristics and methodology may influence the results. Conclusion: Although the findings indicate that mirror therapy is effective in reducing phantom pain, discrepancies in results, scarcity of studies, and a lack of standardized research protocols persist. Even with these limitations, the approach should not be discarded as a treatment option.