Early mirror therapy and the functional recovery of hemiparetic stroke survivors

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of early intervention with mirror therapy on hemiparetic survivors of ischemic stroke. Methods Thirty-six hemiplegic patients within one month after a stroke were randomly divided into a mirror therapy group (MT group, n=18) and a routine rehabilitation control group (RRC group, n=18). The participants in the MT group received MT for 45 min/d, 5 d/wk for 3 weeks in addition to conventional stroke rehabilitation. Those in the RRC group received exercise therapy at the same frequency without the mirror protocol. The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), functional ambulation category scale (FAC), Brunnstrom stages of motor recovery, and the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were used to assess changes in the upper limb, gross hand dexterity and lower limb recovery before and right after the interventions, as well as one and two months after the treatment. Results Significant improvement was observed in the limb function of both groups after the treatment. Compared with the RRC group, there was significantly greater improvement observed in the MT group. This was true of the FMA ratings at all time points, the average WMFT scores one and two months after the intervention, the FAC ratings two months after the intervention, and the Brunnstrom stages at both one and two months after the intervention. However, no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the average MAS scores was observed at any time point. Conclusion Early intervention with MT can significantly accelerate the recovery of a paretic upper limb and improve walking ability after stroke. Such intervention is worthy of promotion and application in clinical practice. Key words: Mirror therapy; Stroke; Ischemic stroke