The effect of mirror therapy on motor abilities of patients with stroke

Background: Stroke is one of the major causes of disability. Therefore, it is important to introduce and develop new treatment approaches in order to improve and enhance post stroke recovery process for medical, social and economical purposes. Aim: To determine the effect of mirror therapy on motor ability of patients with stroke. Methods: This Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted on 38 patients with stroke, hospitalized in Imam Reza and Quaem hospital in Mashhad. They were randomly allocated into two groups of control (18 patients) and mirror therapy group (20 patients). In an experimental group, twenty 30minute sessions were performed daily or every other day. In this procedure, patients performed a range of motion of upper and lower extremities of healthy side in front of the mirror and observed only the mirror image. In additional to mirror therapy in both groups, the routine program (physiotherapy and neuromuscular stimulation) was performed. Upper and lower extremity motor abilities were assessed before, during and after the intervention using motor recovery scale, function index measure and function ambulation classification. Finally, data were analyzed by SPSS version 14. Results: Two groups showed no significant difference in terms of motor ability indexes and confounding variables before the intervention. Motor ability indexes, movement recovery and walking ability in mirror therapy group were significantly improved in comparison with control group after the intervention. (P>0.05) Conclusion: Mirror therapy can improve motor ability of patients with stroke as a simple, inexpensive and patient-oriented treatment.