Mirror therapy for the 21st century enabled by Prism Glasses.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
Please read these instructions carefully before using the Prism Glasses. Keep and retain them within the original packaging for future reference, as they contain important information. If an instruction is not clear to you please contact a qualified healthcare professional. Prism Glasses are a medical device for the treatment and rehabilitation of various conditions such as phantom limb pain, stroke, and complex regional pain syndrome. This treatment is commonly called ‘mirror therapy’.
What to expect
When you do the exercises, you may experience different sensations in your affected hand, arm or leg. These sensations may well feel unusual, especially when you first start, they are believed to be part of the healing process.
If you experience unpleasant sensations, dizziness or feel sick or unwell using the Prism Glasses simply stop exercising and remove the Prism Glasses. These symptoms should gradually disappear much like motion sickness. If they persist, seek medical advice from your practitioner or doctor.
The Prism Glasses should be used only in accordance with these instructions or as directed by your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.
When wearing the prism glasses try to keep your head as still as possible, move your arms or legs into the field of vision rather than moving your head; when moving your head do so slowly.
Make sure that you are only looking at your unaffected limb through the prism. You should see only one limb.
It is important to either move/try to move the affected limb or imagine the affected limb moving to benefit from performing the exercises.
PREPARING TO USE THE PRISM GLASSES
- Clean the prism using a lint free soft cloth supplied, taking care not to scratch the prism.
- Sit comfortably on a secure chair.
- Remove rings or watches if you are treating hand or arm pain or weakness. If you are treating leg pain or weakness, remove your shoes and socks so that your toes are visible.
- Put the Prism Glasses on as you would a normal pair of glasses, with the prism positioned over the eye on the same side as the unaffected limb. Prism Glasses are designed to fit over prescription glasses, put the Prism Glasses on over your glasses if you need them to see a clear image of your hand or foot. For example, if your left arm or leg is painful, affected by a stroke or amputated, look through the prism with the right eye at your right arm or leg. It will appear as if you are seeing your left hand / arm / foot / leg as ‘normal’. Achieving this may take a little bit of practice.
Make sure that you can only see your unaffected limb through the prism
EXERCISES TO BE PERFORMED USING THE PRISM GLASSES
The same exercise should be performed or imagined to be performed by both limbs at the same time and in the same direction.
Perform the exercises prescribed by your healthcare professional for the agreed time, for example, 10 minute sessions, 3 times a day or more if required, up to a maximum of 12 times per day and no longer than 10 minutes per hour. If you have not been given exercises by your healthcare professional the following exercises are often useful.
- making a fist and relaxing the hand in time with the other
- wiggling the fingers / toes in time with each other
- moving the wrist / ankle in time with the other
- bending the arm / leg in time with the other
- picking up objects
- moving towards the middle, or away from middle of body
PHANTOM LIMB PAIN
Look at the reflection of the unaffected limb without moving the limb.
Concentrate on the image and imagine that it is your amputated limb.
Slowly move the unaffected limb and imagine your amputated limb moving using the same movements.
It is important to imagine your amputated limb moving whilst moving your unaffected limb, only moving the unaffected limb may make the condition worse.
COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME
Look at the reflection of the unaffected limb without moving the limb.
Concentrate on the reflection of the unaffected limb and imagine that it is an extension of your body.
Slowly move the limbs using the same movements for both the unaffected and affected limb.
It is important to imagine the affected limb moving and try and move the affected limb, if you can, during the exercise to achieve the best possible benefits
If possible, once you have completed about 5 minutes of gentle exercises, turn the glasses over so that you are looking at the unaffected limb through the prism with the other eye. You will need to GENTLY and SLOWLY move your head to the left or right to look at the unaffected limb. Doing this allows both sides of your brain to experience the effect.
Warnings
ONLY use Prism Glasses when sitting on a secure and non-mobile seat. Do NOT use when driving or operating machinery. Replace the Prism Glasses in the package to avoid damage. If the glasses are dropped or accidentally damaged inspect the glasses for sharp edges and ensure that the prism is securely mounted in the frame. Do NOT use the Prism Glasses if they will be in contact with skin where the surface of the skin is breached, e.g. a cut or scratched nose or ear. If a rash appears where the Prism Glasses have contacted your skin or you experience any sort of allergic reaction to the Prism Glasses, discontinue use and seek medical advice. Once treatment has completed, dispose of the Prism Glasses within the packaging in the normal household waste.
For further information or enquiries please contact info@prismglasses.co.uk
Scottish Health Innovations Ltd Tara House- 5th Floor, 46 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 1HJ. www.prismglasses.co.uk
Prism glasses IFU v5.5
UK Patent No 2452204B