Effects of Combined Robot-assisted Therapy With Mirror Priming in Stroke Patients

Effects of Combined Robot-assisted Therapy With Mirror Priming on Hand Function and Health-related Conditions in Patients With Stroke.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of combining robotic-assisted training and mirror therapy on upper extremity motor and physiological function, daily functions, quality of life and self-efficacy in stroke patients.

Based on trigger theory, this study designed a combining robotic-assisted training and mirror therapy. Before robotic-assisted training, a mirror therapy is performed to double the healing effect of robotic-assisted training.

This study hypothesized that combining robotic-assisted training and mirror therapy can improve the performance of hand function in stroke patients and promote daily life function, quality of life, and self-efficacy compared to single machine-assisted therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Brain injury more than 3 months.
2. Modified Ashworth Scale proximal part ≤ 3, Modified Ashworth Scale distal part ≤ 2, and no serious muscle spasms.
3. The myoelectric signal can be detected to activate the instrument
4. unilateral paresis (FMA score<60)
5. no serious cognitive impairment (i.e., Mini Mental State Exam score > 24)
6. can provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Other neurological disease
2. Complete sense of body defect
3. Inability to understand instructions
4. current participation in any other research
5. Botulinum Toxin injection within 3 months