The effect of mirror therapy on balance ability of subacute stroke patients

Abstract

Background: Rehabilitation of subacute stroke patients represents a major challenge. Objective: This study was conducted to examine the effects of mirror therapy on balance ability among subacute stroke patients. Methods: The patients were assigned to a mirror therapy group ( n = 17) or a sham therapy group ( n = 17). Participants in the experimental group received mirror therapy and conventional rehabilitation therapy for a total of 60 minutes (mirror therapy: 30 minutes; conventional rehabilitation therapy: 30 minutes) per day, with a 10 minute rest period halfway through the session. Participants in the experimental group received training 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group received sham therapy and conventional rehabilitation therapy for a total of 60 minutes (sham therapy: 30 minutes, conventional rehabilitation therapy: 30 minutes) per day on the same day. Balance Index (BI) scores were obtained using a balance measurement system. Results: A significant difference in post-training gains for the overall stability index and medial and lateral stability index was observed between the experimental group and the control group ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that mirror therapy may be beneficial in improving balance ability among subacute stroke patients.

Effects of mirror feedback during balanced exercise performance in the old people with mild cognitive impairment

“…Such results of the study indicate using a mirror during the lateral raise exercise lead to less asymmetrical movements by location and motion. Such improvement in movements using the mirror feedback method has been reported in previous studies with old aged groups with various cognitive complications (Kim et al, 2016;Louw et al, 2017).…”

“…Observational studies reported of excitability of the primary motor cortex during mirror therapy via functional magnetic resonance images indicating positive stimulation in those with cognitive disability (Kim et al, 2016;Luft et al, 2002). Age-related deterioration lead to reduced motor coordination ability in older adults.…”

Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on the Improvement of Balance, Gait and Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Subacute Stroke

“…Stroke usually causes impairments in variety of areas, such as cognition, emotion, motor, and sensory, and thereafter results in imbalance and gait disability as well as impairment of the activities of daily living (ADLs) [1]., Among those areas, poor balance control have an negative influence on the recovery of gait and motor function [2][3][4], even if motor recovery progresses to some extent [5]. Many therapeutic interventions, such as visual feedback training [6], robotic devices [7], mirror therapy [8], and motor imagery training [9] have been performed to improve balance control. Those methods have limitations.…”

Effects of mirror therapy on walking ability, balance and lower limb motor recovery after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…After reviewing the full papers to obtain additional details and excluding studies for various reasons (no relevant outcomes reported, an irrelevant study design, non-randomized studies and publications in languages other than English and Chinese), 13 studies including 572 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. 23–35…”