Effect of mirror therapy on upper extremity functional and motor skills among patients with chronic stroke

Abstract

Background: Mirror therapy is one of the cognitive-induced interventions based on mirror neurons on neurologic grounds. Aim: to evaluate the effect of mirror therapy on upper extremity functional and motor skills among chronic stroke patients. Design: a quasi-experimental design (pre/post-test). Setting: The study was conducted at Egypt of Health care Authority, Port Said hospitals ICU departments. Subjects: All patients (50) with chronic stroke who were admitted to the previously mentioned settings at the time of data collection, which was chosen using a convenient sampling technique. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: Tool 1: Structured interview questionnaire; Tool 2: Fugl-Meyer assessment, lower limb function (FMA); Tool 3: Brunnstrom stages, Tool 4: Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Tool 5: Modified Ashworth Scale. Results: The results of the study illustrated that the mirror therapy group showed significant differences in muscle strength, range of motion of wrist extension, and muscle tone of wrist flexors in the post-test compared to the pre-test as demonstrated by the Dualer IQ Inclinometer and Modified Ashworth Scale. (p<0.05).