Feasibility study of a home-based graded motor imagery intervention (GraMI protocol) for amputees with phantom limb pain.

INTRODUCTION: Phantom limb pain affects 64% of amputees. Graded Motor Imagery comprises three consecutive application techniques designed to reorganize maladaptive changes that have occurred after the amputation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a home-based Graded Motor Imagery intervention, the GraMI protocol, for amputee people with phantom limb pain. METHODS: Twenty individuals over 18 years of age with upper or lower limb amputation, experiencing phantom limb pain, who were pharmacologically stable, and had been discharged from the hospital were recruited. The experimental group followed the GraMI protocol. Primary outcomes included study processes, such as recruitment time and rate, adherence, compliance, and the acceptability of digital technologies as a treatment tool. Secondary outcomes assessed the impact on phantom limb pain, quality of life, functionality, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: On average, seven participants were recruited monthly over a three-month period. No losses were recorded throughout the nine weeks of intervention. Treatment adherence averaged 89.32%, and all participants demonstrated familiarity with the usability of digital technologies. No significant differences were observed between groups (p = .054). However, within the experimental group, intragroup analysis revealed a significant (p = .005) and clinically relevant reduction (>2 points) with a large effect size (0.89) in phantom limb pain. CONCLUSION: Conducting a multicenter study with a home-based intervention using the GraMI protocol is feasible. Future clinical trials are needed to verify its effectiveness in managing phantom limb pain.

Validation of a dual-task exercise program to improve balance and gait speed in older people (DualPro): a Delphi study.

Background: Most physical exercise programs for older people work the physical component in isolation, excluding cognitive aspects. Previous studies reported that both components (physical and cognitive) are necessary for correct functioning of older people in the society. Purpose: To create and validate a dual-task exercise program (DualPro) to improve balance and gait speed in older people. Methods: Expert consensus or the Delphi Method was used for validation. A group of 17 experts in neurorehabilitation and geriatrics was recruited to assess the proposed exercise program. They were selected taking into account their experience in clinical practice as well as their knowledge of the subject through the use of the expert competence coefficient (K). Online questionnaires were sent with a total of 11 exercises, which had to be rated using a "Likert" scale from 1 to 7. Results: Two rounds were conducted to achieve 100% consensus in all exercises. The interquartile range of each exercise in both rounds was stable. During the second round, the relative interquartile range was less than 15% in all the questions, thus demonstrating consensus among the experts. Conclusion: Experts in neurorehabilitation and geriatrics have concluded the validity of the progressive and systematized program of dual-task exercises focused on improving balance and gait speed for older people. This exercise program can help in the homogenization of the use of dual-task exercises in future studies and in professional practice.

Development and Validation of a Graded Motor Imagery Intervention for Phantom Limb Pain in Patients with Amputations (GraMI Protocol): A Delphi Study.

BACKGROUND: Phantom limb pain can be defined as discomfort or pain in a missing part of the limb. The aims of this study were to develop and validate, through a Delphi methodology, a graded motor imagery protocol in order to reduce phantom limb pain. METHOD: Physiotherapists and/or occupational therapists with experience in research and a minimum clinical experience of five years in the field of neurorehabilitation and/or pain were recruited by part of a group of experts to assess the intervention. The study was conducted through an online questionnaire, where experts assessed each aspect of the intervention through a Likert scale. As many rounds as necessary were carried out until consensus was reached among experts. RESULTS: A total of two rounds were required to fully validate the intervention. During the second round, the relative interquartile range of all aspects to be assessed was less than 15%, thus showing a consensus among experts and with good concordance (Kappa index of 0.76). CONCLUSION: Experts validated a graded motor imagery intervention of phantom limb pain in patients with amputations (GraMi protocol). This intervention can help to homogenize the use of graded motor imagery in future studies and in clinical practice.