Mar 25 2008
Soothing massage will relieve pain of amputees
Mar 25: New Scientist magazine published an article quoting that the massages will control nerve cells and activates them when the amputee watches someone doing massage. The scientists in the UK also agreed with this as the illusion effect will bring benefit to the amputees.
“During the massage the neurons in the brain get active either when they perform the action themselves or when they see others performing it. To bring maximum effect the patient has to accept the illusion as real,” said Kate MacIver of Pain Research Institute at Liverpool University.
As part of the study ex-soldiers were subjected to study by Vilayanur Ramachandran.
A mirror box is designed for this purpose and the amputees were asked to put their remaining limbs in the case. While standing in front of the mirror they felt an illusion that the mirror image is their working hand. The sensory cells in their brain fail to give a right signal.
In another similar experiment when the amputees see the hands of the volunteers being patted the amputees began to feel the stroking sensation in their remaining limb. One of them really felt the disappearance of pain for 10 to 15 minutes. The findings of the study will also benefit the stroke victims. At early stage the stroke victims will regain movements by watching other people doing massage.
