Objective: To observe the effect of mirror therapy synchronized with bilateral movement training for upper limb complex regional pain syndrome type Ⅰ (CRPSⅠ) after craniocerebral injury.
Methods: A 65 year old patient with CRPS Ⅰ of hemiplegic upper limb after craniocerebral injury received mirror therapy synchronized with bilateral movement training for four weeks. Before treatment, at two weeks and four weeks of treatment and one month of follow-up, the pain [visual analogue scale (VAS)], edema of the affected hand, motor function and joint range of motion (Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale) of hemiplegic upper limbs, and the differences in temperature between bilateral palms and shoulders were evaluated.
Results: After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the pain of the affected upper limb was significantly reduced, the VAS score of the shoulder and hand and the edema of the affected hand were significantly decreased, and the motor function and joint range of motion of the hemiplegic upper limb were significantly improved. After one month of follow-up, these observed measurements improved continuously. After four weeks of treatment, the differences in temperature between bilateral palms and shoulders were significantly reduced compared with those before treatment.
Conclusion: Mirror therapy synchronized with bilateral movement training can significantly reduce the symptoms of CRPS Ⅰ and improve the motor function of the affected upper limb.