A study of therapeutic intervention methods to improve proprioception among hemiplegic stroke patients

Abstract

The present study uses proprioceptive neuromuscular stimulation (which can increase nerve plasticity by stimulating proprioception) and modified mirror therapy to provide feedback in order to investigate these treatments’ effects on upper-limb functions and daily living activities among stroke patients. The experimental group (n=15) underwent a mirror therapy program after PNF for 30 minutes three times weekly, for a total of 18 treatment sessions. Meanwhile, the control group (n=15) underwent only PNF treatment three times weekly for a total of 18 treatment sessions. Evaluations of participants’ paretic upper-limb functions and ability, as well as their daily living activities, were conducted using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA), manual function test (MFT), motor activity log (MAL), and functional independence measure (FIM). The FMA, MFT, MAL, and FIM scores of the experimental group differed statistically significantly from those of the control group in terms of curative effects. Thus, the results of this study show that PNF and mirror therapy are effective interventions to improve upper-limb functions and activities, as well as the performance of daily living activities, among hemiplegic stroke patients.