<![CDATA[Background: Evidence on mirror therapy (MT) for pain management remains dispersed across clinical conditions, and its application to arteriovenous fistula cannulation pain in hemodialysis patients is insufficiently mapped. This scoping review aimed to map the characteristics and reported pain outcomes of MT across clinical populations and identify evidence gaps, particularly in hemodialysis-related cannulation pain. Methods: This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews, used the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework, and was reported according to PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Scopus, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect were searched through May 30, 2026, for English-language randomized controlled trials published in 2022–2026 that evaluated MT and reported pain outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, assessed full-text articles for eligibility, and charted study characteristics and outcomes, resolving disagreements through discussion until consensus was reached. Evidence was synthesized descriptively and narratively. Both reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials, resolving disagreements through discussion. Results: Of 3,075 records screened, 303 reports were sought for retrieval, and 32 full-text reports were assessed for eligibility. Seven randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria: three investigated MT for complex regional pain syndrome type I, two for phantom limb pain, one for post-needling pain, and one for arteriovenous fistula cannulation pain in hemodialysis patients. Pain intensity was the principal outcome, measured mainly using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Findings varied across studies: some reported significant pain reductions, whereas one CRPS-I trial found no significant between-group differences despite improvements in both groups. Another study evaluated MT alongside high-intensity laser therapy, limiting attribution of the observed effects to MT alone. Only one included study directly examined AV fistula cannulation pain, highlighting the limited evidence for MT in hemodialysis-related procedural pain. Conclusion: The seven included randomized controlled trials mapped the use of mirror therapy (MT) for pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome type I, phantom limb pain, post-needling procedures, and arteriovenous fistula cannulation. Reported outcomes varied across clinical conditions and intervention protocols, limiting conclusions regarding its effectiveness across these populations. Evidence specific to hemodialysis-related cannulation pain remains limited, as only one included study directly investigated this outcome. Further well-designed controlled trials using standardized MT protocols, intervention duration and frequency, and pain assessment methods are needed to clarify its effects, particularly in patients undergoing hemodialysis.]]>
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