Mirror box therapy in the complex regional pain syndrome type I

Abstract

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I is a neuropathic pain condition, commonly affecting a limb extremity after a traumatic event and/or a period of immobilization, in the absence of nerve injury. Besides pain, the clinical features include regional vasomotor alterations and usually a decreased range of motion in the affected extremity. Its actual cause remains somewhat obscure and there are few agreements on optimal treatment. The mirror box is a therapeutic approach based on visual feedback as a way to achieve a new mental imagery of the affected limb by promoting cortical reorganization. This approach has been used for the motor recovery or pain relief in conditions such as stroke or type-I CRPS.