Inspiring Amputee Peer-To-Peer First Review Meeting, Hai Lang, Vietnam

Amputee Peer-To-Peer 1st Review Meeting, Hai Lang, Vietnam

One month after a peer-to-peer group in Hai Lang, Vietnam, learned how to use mirror therapy at home to relieve the symptoms of phantom pain, they met to share their progress and the impact of the therapy on their lives.

The impact was profound; a solid model for a network of other peer-to-peer amputee groups to meet in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.

Most of the amputees said that their pain was improved or reduced from at least 30% up to  80% and are thankful for the therapy. 

Several people revealed that they had drank a lot of alcohol to forget their pain, while others stated that their pain would drive them to anger easily when relating to family and friends. Now, they said, practice with the mirror has helped them in these matters. 

All of the participants look forward to further progress and are highly committed to remain in the project until it is completed in March, 2015. 

According to Nguyen Thanh Phu, the next step for Project Renew is to team up with the Quang Tri Provincial Disabled People's Association to seek resources for expanding the model into the Association's grassroots networks, so that more and more amputees can benefit from this effective, inexpensive treatment. 

Full-Day Mirror Therapy Workshop in Olovo, Bosnia

Jasmin Avdovic demonstrating mirror therapy to Olovo workshop participants

On January 24, 2015, nineteen Bosnian physiotherapists participated in a full-day Mirror Therapy Workshop at the hotel complex and spa center Aquaterm-Olovo, in the medieval Bosnian town of Olovo.

Jasmin Avdovic, founder of Adria, a pan-Balkan Mirror Therapy organization, started the workshop by demonstrating mirror therapy with a client with hemiparesis stemming from a cerebrovascular injury.

Many questions were asked by the enthusiastic participants, followed by truly professional interactivity for the remainder of the day.

Certified Mirror Therapists at Adria Mirror Therapy Workshop, Olovo, Bosnia

 The lively workshop ended with certification of the nineteen participants as Mirror Therapists & Trainers as defined by End The Pain Project guidelines. Hailing from many part of Bosnia & Herzegovina, those certified were Edina Lolic Ostojic, Srđan Šarenac,  Mila Emanuela Pranjic, Lidija Leko, Ozrenka Fisic, Lamija Sarajlija Mehanović-, Dženita Grebović Hidić,  Neda Vucetic, Muamer Oruc, Robert Badrov, Huseljic Kenan, Ajla Kanjić, Sead Bjelic, Samra Sokolar, Aldin Hodzic,
Dijana Tikvic, Suad Arzic, Sejla Imamovic, Ajdin Imamovic.

Avdovic believes that these needed therapists will help to alleviate the phantom limb symptoms of amputees  which is an ongoing problem due to fact that the highest number of landmines in the world lie in the Balkans.

In March, Avdovic will bring Adria Mirror Therapy to Belgrade, where the Republic of Serbia will officially gain its first Mirror Therapists.

Peer-To-Peer Amputee Program Launches in Vietnam

Pham Qui Thi, Ban Advocate, presenting peer-to-peer Mirror Therapy with upper limb amputees

 With a donation of 20 table-top mirrors, ETPP ToolKits translated into Vietnamese and pain scales from End The Pain Project as well as the joint sponsorship of Handicap International and Project Renew, a mirror therapy workshop for twenty amputees in Hai Lang district, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam was kicked off on December 18, 2014.

Cluster munitions survivor Pham Quy Thi presented the concept of mirror therapy at home, followed by an actual mirror therapy session that lasted for 20 minutes supported by Pham Quy Thi and Nguyen Thanh Phu of the Project Renew Mine Action Visitor Center.

The participants were divided into two groups, one with leg amputations, the other with arm amputations.

 four out of the five upper limb amputee participants had positive feedback. They can really feel their missing fingers moving exactly like what existed before.

Lower limb amputee concentrating on a reflection of his intact leg

A man whose leg was amputated, said  he really could see his missing leg in the mirror after many years, and felt as if he can walk with balance.

Only in one case, a woman reported that she could not feel anything.  Later, she said that she misunderstood what the team had told her. Instead of concentrating on the reflected image of her leg, she just looked at her intact leg. It was concluded that this was the reason why,she did not get any reaction during the session.

Participants of the Mirror Therapy Workshop with instructors Mr. Nguyen and Mr. Pham

All the participants were very happy and and committed to following mirror therapy sessions  at home for one month.

Spa Hotel Terme Practioners Qualify For MT Certification

Jasmin Avdović leading Mirror Therapy Workshop for Spa Hotel Terme Employees

In cooperation with End The Pain Project, licensed educator Jasmin Avdović held a full-day Mirror Therapy Workshop for ten professional employees of the Spa Hotel Terme in Sarajevo on November 29, 2014.

 

The ten students successfully trained in the application of mirror therapy techniques received certification to practice these skills and train other therapists. Those who were approved and issued certificates:

Sanela Sadikovic, Haris Kapetanovic, Goran Bogeljic, Alen Raonic, Muamer Custovic, Sead Kojic, Edita Rizvic, Mersiha Čavčić, Tanja Umicevic, Aida Deception.

Mirror Therapy Training Workshop Held 11/ 22/ 14 in Vitez, Bosnia

Jasmin Avdovic of Mirror Adria Leading Vitez Mirror Therapy Training Workshop

On November 22, 2014, the medieval old town of Vitez, Bosnia was the setting for the Physiotherapy Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (UFFBiH) practical seminar that included a two-hour Mirror Therapy (MT) Training Workshop.

Participants at Vitez MT Training Workshop

Seventy-seven physiotherapy professionals attended the MT Training Workshop led by Jasmin Avdovic of the Mirror Adria organization, coming away with great enthusiasm for the simple, cost-effective therapy.

An all-day MT Training Workshop in December 2014, is under consideration by the Aquaterm Thermal Spa, Olovo, Bosnia for its employees. The Spa, which maintains several hundred beds, says the majority of their clients are persons with stroke and hemiparesis, both of which can be aided by Mirror Therapy.

In April 2015, Avdovic is scheduled to lead MT Training Workshops in the country of Montenegro.

MIrror Therapy Presented At 1st International Physiotherapy Congress in Montenegro by Jasmin Avdovic

Jasmin Avdovic training Congress participant

Mirror Therapy trainer Jasmin Avdovic from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented a one hour Mirror Therapy workshop as part of the official program of The 1st International Physiotherapy Congress on 10/09/14 at Institute Dr.Simo Milosevic in Igalo, Montenegro. The Institute, one of the largest and the most famous institutions for multidisciplinary spa treatment on the Balkan peninsula, is a pioneer of modern physical and preventive medicine, rehabilitation, talasotherapy and wellness and a leading international rehabilitation center.


Over 120 Congress participants were introduced to the Mirror Therapy technique by Avdovic through interactive presentations and demonstrations that allowed participants to feel for themselves the basic principles of Mirror Therapy and body reactions to it.

Besides the large number of health professionals attending this workshop, national physiotherapy associations and certain health institutions from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, United Kingdom and others participated as official representatives of their national associations. Many representatives expressed interest in organizing full-day Mirror Therapy workshops.

Mirror therapy in the Balkans is important because of the high number of limb amputations, primarily in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as land mine fields were the worst  in world, followed by Croatia and Kosovo.

Jasmin Avdovic also explored the importance of using Mirror therapy for stroke, aneurism, traumatic brain injuries and others neurological disorders and conditions) with the participants. This Mirror Therapy workshop successfully left a huge imprint for future MT education in south-east Europe.

Video of Mirror Therapy Workshop August 20, 2014, Gihembe Refugee Camp, Rwanda

This video of the Mirror Therapy Workshop held on August 20, 2014 at Gihembe Refugee Camp, Rwanda is conducted in Rwandan.

However, enthusiasm for the procedure is captured on the faces of the participants.