Mirror Therapy for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study

Background: One in five patients experience persistent pain and disability after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), often driven by increased sensitization of the nervous system pain. Pain a sensitized are major barriers to postoperative rehabilitation impeding improved movement, function. Objective: To determine if mirror therapy following TKA yields any positive shifts self-reported pain, active range motion (ROM) nerve sensitivity (pressure thresholds - PPT). Design: Case series with pre- immediate post-intervention measurements. Methods: A convenience sample who just underwent was recruited for study. Prior therapy, flexion ROM PPTs were measured. In hook lying, placed between legs, separating surgical non-surgical legs. Patients performed 3 sets 10 supine heel slides leg while watching mirror, mimicking leg. Results: Eighteen (9 female), mean age 65.94 years time since 7.83 days participated Immediately 3.84 degrees (p = 0.001), exceeding minimal detectable change. Self-reported 0.08), PPT 0.95), 0.21) upper trapezius 0.23) failed show significant improvement therapy. Conclusion: The results this study that immediately may have some benefit improving ROM, but not or system. This is first exploring effects TKA.