|
|
|
Home » Reflexology for phantom limb pain
The Facts:
- Reflexology might provide a useful, non-invasive form of phantom limb pain relief for patients after lower limb amputation.
- 10 patients with phantom limb pain received full foot reflexology to the remaining foot and full hand reflexology to the hand of the amputated side of the body over a 30-week period.
- The presence and intensity of the phantom limb pain improved over the course of the study, and the improvement was maintained with self-treatment.
Dr Shaun Holt: Most people who have had an amputation report “feelings” in the missing limb, and the feeling is usually one of pain. It is a fascinating biological phenomenon and difficult to treat – how do you treat pain in a limb that is not there! This study found positive effects from reflexology, however the results need to be treated with caution as the study was not controlled and the findings could be explained as solely placebo effect.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2007.12.006
|
|
|
