Is mirror therapy combined with a routine physiotherapy protocol effective for children with obstetrical upper brachial plexus palsy?

Abstract

Study designRandomized controlled study. IntroductionMirror therapy is a rehabilitation strategy based on the repeated use of the mirror illusion and also one of the treatment choice of brachial plexus injuries. PurposeWe aimed to determine the effects of mirror therapy combined with a routine rehabilitation program on upper limb motor function in children with obstetric brachial plexus injury. MethodsTwenty children with obstetric brachial palsy were included in this study. They were randomly allocated to either control (n = 10) or mirror therapy (n = 10) group. The following clinical tools were used to assess the upper extremity function: Active Movement Scale (AMS), Modified Mallet Scale (MMS), Hand Grip Strength (HGS) Test, Finger Grip Strength (FGSM) Test, Box and Block Test (BBT), Nine Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), and goniometric measurement. Both groups received the same routine physiotherapy program for 8 weeks. The study group underwent mirror therapy in addition to the rehabilitation program. ResultsThe mean age of the study population was 11.35 ± 4.12 years. There was no change in the goniometric values, AMS and MMS scores after the treatment in both groups (p > 0.05), except for the improvement of the wrist extension in the study group (p < 0.05). There was an increase in both HGS and FGS scores in the study group. Only FGS scores improved in the control group after the intervention (p < 0.05). 9-HPT and BBT scores improved in both groups (p < 0.05). All other parameters tested were comparable between the two groups after the treatment. ConclusionsThe results of this study did not show any additional benefits of mirror therapy combined with a rehabilitation protocol compared to routine physiotherapy treatment, but was not adequately powered to do so.