Effect of Limb Massage and Exercises on Phantom Limb Pain among Amputee Patients

Phantom limb pain is experienced when the brain sends pain signals to limbs that are
not there. Ongoing military conflicts, motor vehicle crashes and machinery accidents can
cause traumatic injuries requiring amputation. Regardless of the cause of the injury,
traumatic amputations result in a complex pain management issues. In addition, the postamputation
pain can influence patients’ mobility, sleep, and overall quality of life, despite the
abundance of literature on phantom limb pain; there remains no clear consensus on the
mechanisms of the disorder and best method of management. Objective: Determine the effect
of limb massage and range of motion exercises on phantom limb pain among amputee
patients. Setting: The study was carried out in Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria.
Subjects: The study comprised 30 adult male patients with amputee limb (upper or lower)
aged 20-60 years. Tools: Socio-demographic and Clinical Data Structured Interview
Schedule and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Pain Scale (S-LANSS).
Results: Results of the present study revealed that the implemented range of motion exercises
and limb massage improved significantly the patients' phantom limb pain, whereby the mean
score percent changes after exercises and massage was 26±2.35 percentage, and the LANSS
mean score decreased from 14±2.569 to 10±3.288. A statistical significant relation was noted
between LANSS mean score and injury site and injury duration (P=0.056, P=0.049
respectively). Conclusion: Range of motion exercises and limb massage improved pain level
among amputee patients. Recommendations: Based on the results the researcher
recommended incorporating non-pharmacological methods like limb range of motion
exercises and residual limb massage to relieve phantom limb pain.