Development a new treatment strategy using mirror therapy for skeletal muscular pain

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17530
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Moriuchi Takefumi 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(保健学科), 准教授 (40814124)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ミラーセラピー / 骨格筋性疼痛 / 経頭蓋磁気刺激 / 運動誘発電位 / Numerical Rating Scale / 高張食塩水

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of mirror therapy on corticospinal excitability and subjective pain level in healthy adults with experimental acute pain as translational research for the development of central nervous system rehabilitation interventions in patients with acute skeletal muscle pain. The results showed that mirror therapy significantly increased corticospinal excitability compared to the control condition and significantly shortened the time from pain onset to complete resolution. The results suggest that MT for skeletal muscle pain may be able to reduce pain-induced corticospinal excitability and pain itself.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は，骨折等により生じる急性骨格筋痛患者に対する新たな介入法の一つとして，ミラーセラピーの有効性を支持する基礎的なデータであり，急性骨格筋痛患者に対する治療戦略の一つとして更なる発展も期待できる．今後，実際の症例を通じての介入研究での検討は必須ではあるが，本研究の結果からミラーセラピーが骨格筋痛の軽減と，痛みに伴う中枢神経系の可塑的な変化を予防する有効な介入手段となる可能性があるものと考える．