Full Story: – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15938103

Mirror Box Therapy is used for many conditions including, phantom limb pain; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and for rehabilitation after a stroke; an injury; or surgery. Visualization therapy has been described in medical literature to be of benefit to 80% of users. The rate and amount of recovery much depends on the intensity and duration of the therapy. Recovery is influenced by personality, life experiences and coping styles. Why it worksA little understanding of how the brain works will help you understand Mirror Box Therapy.The brain consists of billions of neurones and trillions of connections. These neurones are able to store a map of our body, this is why we can close our eyes and still touch our nose, ear, knee or indeed any part of our body without looking. So if you were to lose a limb, the limb may have gone but the brain’s map still has the image of the limb. The brain continues to send electrical signals through neurons to the limb and the mismatch between the brain’s map and what actually exists, causes pain.While putting the affected limb inside the mirror box and the unaffected limb in front of the mirror, and looking at the image in the mirror the brain receives visual feedback thus fooling it into thinking that the affected limb is still working. Encouraging the brain to adjust to its new environment. This same principle of fooling the brain also works for CRPS/RSD and limb rehabilitation after surgery or an injury. Mirror Box Therapy for stroke rehab works differently as it is the brain that is damaged and not the limb. Along with the neurons we have mirror neurons; these mirror neurons fire just by seeing someone doing something, simulating the action in our minds (we empathize).Therefore by seeing the affected limb in the mirror essentially working, the brain is encouraged to rebuild the network within the brain and restart its communication with the limb. The brain will actively open new pathways that have lain dormant until now.

 I had researched this therapy prior to ever trying it, but it seemed almost too good to be true.

 Since graduating from the Functional Restoration Program I do this at home. It is what helped me increased my entire range of motion.

 Here’s how it works-

 For lower extremity RSD

 Place a full length mirror between your legs. If your right side is damaged then point the reflection of the mirror to your left leg. (If left is damaged, point the reflection to your right leg)

 In the right leg example, your eyes (and even face) need to be watching the left side of the mirror)

 You will see 2 images. One is really your left leg and the other is the reflection of your left leg in the mirror, but your mind will begin to think it is the right side. (Don’t look at the real right side at all)

 Try to suspend any disbelief. This technique tricks the brain and it really does work.

 Stare at the reflection in the mirror for 2 straight minutes.

 You will see two legs/feet

 Start raising your toes (your good side) and take your time, there is no rush.

 Continue doing this for 10 minutes (remember you are moving your good side, not the bad side)

 Eventually and rather quickly, the damaged side will begin to move on it’s own. You may not even have any control over it at all. (remember you are not consciously moving that foot or leg)

 After 10 minutes.. stop. Try again the next day.

 You may get some pain from this and that is because it does actually work. You will move muscles, bones, etc that you Haven’t used or tried to use because of the RSD pain.

Upper extremity

The same concept. There are mirror boxes actually sold for this.

Prior to beginning the FRP I was a little skeptical about mirror and mirror box therapy. I had also never tried it. During my physical therapy I did mirror therapy for 10 minutes 2/3 times a day.

I had researched this therapy prior to ever trying it, but it seemed almost too good to be true.

Since graduating from the Functional Restoration Program I do this at home. It is what helped me increased my entire range of motion.

Here’s how it works-

For lower extremity RSD

Place a full length mirror between your legs. If your right side is damaged then point the reflection of the mirror to your left leg. (If left is damaged, point the reflection to your right leg)

In the right leg example, your eyes (and even face) need to be watching the left side of the mirror)

You will see 2 images. One is really your left leg and the other is the reflection of your left leg in the mirror, but your mind will begin to think it is the right side. (Don’t look at the real right side at all)

Try to suspend any disbelief. This technique tricks the brain and it really does work.

Stare at the reflection in the mirror for 2 straight minutes.

You will see two legs/feet

Start raising your toes (your good side) and take your time, there is no rush.

Continue doing this for 10 minutes (remember you are moving your good side, not the bad side)

Eventually and rather quickly, the damaged side will begin to move on it’s own. You may not even have any control over it at all. (remember you are not consciously moving that foot or leg)

After 10 minutes.. stop. Try again the next day.

You may get some pain from this and that is because it does actually work. You will move muscles, bones, etc that you haven’t used or tried to use because of the RSD pain.

Upper extremity

The same concept. There are mirror boxes actually sold for this.

Read the full post at http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-discussions/general-support/698075-mirror-therapy-and-rsdcrps

Healthbeat Report Mirror therapy to help regain movement in …
Some patients are now trying an easy and inexpensive technique to help regain movement in partially paralyzed or injured arms.
abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/health&id…

More versatile than the smaller unit making it ideal for the professional therapist. The unit is still very portable and fold in seconds.

For more information CLICK HERE

Mirror therapy was first described by V.S. Ramachandran for treatment of phantom limb pain, but has since been proven in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) / RSD, and stroke rehabilitation, as well as for hand and foot rehabilitation following an injury or surgery.