The Effects of Mirror Therapy on Upper Extremity in Stroke Patients

The Effects of Mirror Therapy on Upper Extremity in Stroke Patients

The purpose of this study is to compare treatment efficacy of mirror therapy (MT), mirror therapy combining mesh glove (MG+MT) stimulation, and controlled treatment (CT) in people with stroke.

55% to 75% of people after stroke have a paretic arm that causes motor impairment. Among novel rehabilitation interventions, MT was found to be beneficial and comparatively low-cost. MT reduced motor impairment possibly in part of recruiting the premotor cortex or balancing the neural activation within the primary motor cortex toward the affected hemisphere. However, the benefits in certain aspects of outcomes are under debate. Another treatment, MG, can be used to normalize muscle tone, suppress muscle spasticity, enhance residual volitional activity of hand and arm, or even increasing walking speed. In addition, providing MG stimulation might result in plastic changes in the primary motor cortex, and induced a long-lasting modulated effect on motor cortical excitability. The possible mechanism of brain plasticity underlying MG is collective with the mechanism behind the MT. Adding MG to MT might augment the cortical reorganization. In sum, combining MT with MG may supplement the disadvantage or uncertain effects of MT and broaden the benefited outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The onset duration more than 3 months
• Demonstration of Brunnstrom stage equal to or above stage III of the affected upper extremity
• No serious cognitive deficits (a score of more than 24 on the Mini Mental State Exam)
• No serious visual and visual-perception impairments
• No concurrent participation in other drug or rehabilitation research
• No serious attention deficits
• No excessive spasticity in any of the joints of the affected UL exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exhibit physician determined major medical problems or poor physical conditions that would interfere with participation
• Excessive pain in any joint that might limit participation