Mirror Therapy & Wrist Fracture
Reference:Mirror Therapy & Wrist Fracture Altschuler EL, Hu J. Mirror therapy in a patient with a fractured wrist and no active wrist extension. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 2008;42(2):110-1.
This single case study has made me use mirror therapy more often in an orthopaedic setting. If a patient has a wrist fracture and has significant fear and pain limiting ROM, then simply place a mirror between their two hands.
Train the patient by asking them to move both hands while watching the reflection of the non-effected hand in the mirror. Have the patient do 10 minutes of mirror therapy at home twice a day; it may greatly help them when they reach a plateau with manual therapy and exercises!
It is a very viable and inexpensive treatment option with no adverse effects.
Posted on: July 05, 2012
Categories: Wrist & Hand , Fascinating Pain Studies