MIRROR THERAPY ADRIA BRINGS CERTIFICATION TOTAL OF MIRROR THERAPY PRACTITIONERS TO 112 IN THE BALKANS

Certified Mirror Therapy Practitioners with Trainer Jasmin Avdovic

Eight medical practitioners were certified in Mirror Therapy by Mirror Therapy Adria on December 3, 2016, utilizing End The Pain Project guidelines and principals. This event brings a total of 112 Mirror therapists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.

This growing number of MT practitioners is of significant value to the region as  the highest number of land mines in the world lie in the Balkans, with emphasis on  Bosnia and Herzegovina. The number of land mine related injuries resulting limb amputations is still high and unfortunately, to be expected in the long term future all over the Balkans. Non-invasive Mirror Therapy is the proven first choice technique in treating phantom limb pain and phantom limb sensation.

 Jasmin Avdovic, Founder of Mirror Therapy Adria, organized yet another successful full-day MT workshop on December 3, 2016. The Workshop took place in at the Hollywood Spa and Resort, Sarajevo BiH. 

Many questions were raised and answered, including those about the treatment of the central nervous system injuries and illnesses resulting in hemiparesis and facial nerve paralysis with mirror therapy, innovations beyond treating only phantom limb pain and phantom limb sensation.

After learning the principals on which MT works -- based on brain plasticity, remapping the brain, and the fact that humans possess mirror neurons, participants were amazed with simplicity and low cost of using mirrors to achieve expected results with clients.

In its two years of existence, starting in December 2014, Mirror Therapy Adria has presented numerous introductory MT workshops at Physiotherapy International Congresses and presented MT to hundreds of physiotherapists all over the Balkans from Slovenia to Macedonia. Mirror Therapy Adria plans to organize similar workshops in Kosovo and Macedonia during 2017.

ETPP and its co-founder Moira Judith Mann, who introduced mirror therapy for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013, are great supporters of Mirror Therapy Adria activities all over the Balkans.

Certified Mirror Therapists as of December 3, 2016:
1. Zlatan Osmani -Bosnia
2. Daria Herceg -Bosnia
3. Dženan Pleho - Bosnia
4. Gregor Gorinšek - Slovenia
5. Monika Tuš -Slovenia
6. Sonja Iža - Croatia
7. Tea Pačarić - Croatia
8. Mery Ann Novoselić - Croatia

First Mirror Therapy Education Workshop Held in The Republic of Serbia

Participants in the Belgrade Serbia Mirror Therapy Workshop

A joint effort of the Belgrade-Serbia Association for Medical Training and Education, Deus, and Mirror Therapy Adria from Sarajevo-Bosnia (as the ETPP Mirror Therapy education provider for the Adria region) , organized the first mirror therapy education ever to be held in Republic of Serbia on March 20, 2016, in the FizioBalans Center based in Belgrade.

The health care system of Republic of Serbia can now offer an effective technique for treating phantom limb pain and phantom limb sensation as well as treatment of complex regional pain syndrome, spasticity and facial nerve paralysis.

The educational workshop led by Mirror Therapy Adria trainer Jasmin Avdović, was well adopted and understood, as the participants raised many questions transforming it in to a true interactive professional event .

Certified Serbian Mirror Therapists with Adria Trainer, Jasmin Avdović

Internationally recognized certificates were issued to the first Mirror Therapists of the Republic of Serbia:

1. Ljiljana Katunac-FizioBalans-Belgrade
2. Mirjana Vujasinović-FizioBalans-Belgrade
3. Branka Čirić-Institute for Mental Health
4. Snežana Bičanin-Clinic for Child Habitation and Rehabilitation
5. Jelena Kuč-Military Medical Academy - Belgrade
6. Nataša Živaljević-Military Medical Academy-Belgrade
7. Danijela Vasič Đukanović-Gerontology Center Beograd
8. Vesna Paušić
9. Danijela Trandafilović

New Use of Mirror Therapy Technique Showcased at Zabreb Croatia MT Workshop

At a 2-day Mirror Therapy Workshop organized by Mirror Therapy Adria  and Clinical Hospital Dubrava-Zagreb for 49 healthcare professionals at the Zagreb hospital, workshop leader Jasmin Avdovic presented the product of his latest research, a technique to treat facial nerve paralysis.

Using mirrors as shown in the photo creates a virtual reality. Simply put, incorporating the newly presented mirror information allows the client to re-structure the very section of the map inside the brain responsible for facial action. Just the commonly used frontal exposure to a mirror, only allows for working towards lifting one side of the mouth or one eyebrow to resemble the other side.

A facial nerve paralysis treatment based upon the same MT principals as behind brain remapping to bypass damaged neurons

Besides health professionals from Clinical hospital ‘’Dubrava-Zagreb’’ where the training took place, health professionals came from other institutions:

• University of Applied Heath Science (Zagreb-Croatia)
• Clinical Hospital Center ‘’Sestre milosrdnice’’, (Zagreb-Croatia)
• The Institute for Rehabilitation and Orthotic (Zagreb-Crotia)
• Clinical Hospital Center ‘’Rebro’’(Zagreb-Croatia)
• Institute for Treatment of Pain (Osijek-Croatia)
• Institute for Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (Osijek-Croatia)
• Clinical Hospital Center ‘’Osijek’’ (Osijek-Croatia)
• General Hospital ‘’Pula’’ (Pula-Croatia)
• Public Primary Health Care Institution of Canton Sarajevo(Sarajevo-Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Tobia-Patronage (Zagreb-Croatia)
• Private Policlinic and Physical Therapy at Home (Virovitica-Croatia)
• Private Physical Therapy’’Jadranka Brozd’’ (Zagreb-Croatia)
• Policlinic for Rheumatic Diseases ‘’Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Dr.Drago Čop’’(Zagreb-Croatia

Participants of Mirror Therapy Workshop at Dubrava-Zagreb Clinical Hospital

Now certified as Mirror Therapy Therapists:

Matea Perković, Jadranka Brozd, Maria Platz-Zagreb, Kruno Topolski, Jasenka Ivić, Marija Huljev Kolega, Danijel Bilandžija, Katarina Čajko, Andrej Matejčić, Ivana Žulj, Josipa Vidaković, Ivona Turalija, Ivana Nikolić, Bruno Ežbegović, Lea Gubijan, Slađana Serezlija, Nino Kecman, Dinko Remić, Lorena Skoko, Marković Martina, Jasminka Baturina, Miro Dragović, Krešimir Horvat, Majana Delić, Miloš Brodalić, Nikolina Delaš, Maja Kranjec Sušac, Mirjana Telebuh, Igor Maratović, Gordana Grozdek Čović, Hrvoje Matić, Silvija Grabar, Jelena Sedlovski, Ozana Katarina Tot, Vanja Matković, Andrea Stojić, Renata Magdalenić, Marica Salihović, Marijan Mašić, Tomislava Marijanović Vicić, Jelica Romić-Zagreb, Dubravka Bobek-Zagreb, Gordan Preskar, Maja Fotez, Matea Jurilj, Jago Lucić, ZlatkoSertić, Malkoč Azra

Mirror Therapy Adria Holds Successful Mirror Therapy Workshop in Fojnica

From left to right (standing) as Emira Klisura-Bosnia, Samra Karač-Bosnia, Antonela Pavić-Croatia, Tarik Žetica-Bosnia, Matej Bedenik-Slovenia, Edis Kozić-Bosnia; (seated) Jasmin Avdović-Mirror therapy Adria MT trainer, Nikola Dobrijević-Croatia

On October 17, 2015, Mirror Therapy Adria organized a Mirror Therapy Workshop for Physical Therapy Practitioners in the central Bosnian town of Fojnica. The town is well known for the biggest thermal and rehabilitation spa center in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Most amputees in Bosnia and Herzegovina have used the services of this thermal spa center at least once. Most return on a regular annual basis for continuing treatment.

Recently this thermal spa become the site where all persons with war related injuries including traumatic amputations are transferred from Libya to receive proper rehabilitation treatments. So it is not strange that there is a high interest in Mirror Therapy education and implementing it as regular daily based treatment at the spa.

Participants of the full day MT education according to End The Pain Project guidelines, received MT certificates entitling them to practice as mirror therapists. The Workshop was successfully led by Adria Mirror Therapy trainer, Jasmin Avdović.

The participants came from Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighboring Republic of Croatia and Republic of Slovenia. The participants from Croatia and Slovenia are the first mirror therapists in their countries.

Certified Mirror Therapy Practitioners Now In Montenegro

Montenegro Physiotherapists Learning Mirror Therapy

MT Trainer, Jasmin Avdovic & Workshop Attendee

in cooperation with The National Physiotherapy Association of Montenegro and The Faculty of Applied Physiotherapy, U of Montenegro, Mirror Therapy Adria and  ETPP organized a full day Mirror Therapy Workshop for nine Montenegro Physiotherapists at The Faculty of Applied Physiotherapy's multimedia education amphitheater on Sunday April 25, 2015. These Physiotherapists became the first certified mirror therapists in Montenegro, four from Herceg Novi, and one from each of the following cities: Kotor, Niksic, Petnjice, Danilovgrad and Cetinje.

There is a growing recognition of mirror therapy by medical professionals in the Balkans as the treatment of first choice for relief of post-traumatic neuropathic pain and stroke. Mirror Therapy Adria is even more convinced that these workshops should be organized in each local area of the Balkans, where its been seen and recently reported that an increasing number of people who suffer the fore mentioned problems.

Certified  MT Therapists & Jasmin Avdovic  Montenegro April 2015

First Mirror Therapy Training Workship in Macedonia

Šejla Imamovic

Mirror Therapy Adria member, Šejla Imamovic, recently conducted a Mirror Therapy Training Workshop  as part of the official First Physiotherapy Congress of the Republic of Macedonia in the capitol city of Skopje.

Macedonian physiotherapists at Mirror Therapy Training Workshop

All twenty-five attendant physiotherapists participated interactively during this workshop, showing great enthusiasm for using this technique with both amputees suffering phantom limb pain and clients suffering hemiparesis.

Physiotherapists experience Mirror Therapy for themselves

Though the Republic of Macedonia suffered a only a brief time of conflict in the 90's, numerous land minefields were laid down, which caused some Macedonians to lose limbs.

According to its director, Jasmin Avdovic, Mirror Therapy Adria plans to certify physiotherapists from the Republic of Macedonia starting this this year, so that mirror therapy as initiated by End The Pain Project can continue to be spread throughout the former Yugoslavia.

Mirror Therapy Training Workshop held in Macedonia a first!

Šejla Imamovic

Mirror Therapy Adria member, Šejla Imamovic recently conducted a Mirror Therapy Training Workshop  as part of the official First Physiotherapy Congress of the Republic of Macedonia in the capitol city of Skopje.

Macedonian physiotherapists at Mirror Therapy Training Workshop

All twenty-five attendant physiotherapists participated interactively during this workshop, showing great enthusiasm for using this technique with both amputees suffering phantom limb pain and clients suffering hemiplegia.

Though the Republic of Macedonia suffered a only a brief time of conflict in the 90's, numerous land minefields were laid down, which caused some Macedonians to lose limbs.

Mirror therapy Adria plans to certify physiotherapists from the Republic of Macedonia this year so that Mirror Therapy as initiated by End The Pain Project will be spread throughout the former Yugoslavia.

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.

Mirror-Adria a registered Bosnian organization to offer Mirror Therapy Training Workshops

 Mirror-Adria, a rehabilitation training group  has been registered by physiotherapist Jasmin Adovic to address the problem of phantom limb pain for Bosnian amputees. Sarajevo alone, has over 50,000 people with permanent disabilities as a direct consequence of injuries from 1992-1995. This data does not include the numbers of wounded soldiers, including amputees who suffer with phantom limb pain.

Mirror-Adria, endorsed by End The Pain Project (ETPP), will bring Mirror Therapy training workshops to rehabilitation therapists in the Adria region as follows:

Bosnia - end of 2014
Montenegro - April 18, 2015
Serbia-May - June 2015
Macedonia - some time at the end of 2015

Graduates of the Mirror-Adria Training Workshops will receive Certificates of Completion issued by ETPP which will allow them to both administer mirror therapy and to train other professional therapists, amputees and family members or friends of amputees who suffer phantom limb pain. 

Jasmin Adovic, founder of Mirror Therapy Adria at far left with graduates of the September 2013 ETPP Mirror Therapy Training Workshop

Adovic recently created a FaceBook group, Mirror Therapy Adria. It has attracted over 500 members and more are coming, all with days of its inception!