title: Mirror therapy enhances lower-extremity motor recovery and motor functioning after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of mirror therapy, using motor imagery training, on lower-extremity motor recovery and motor functioning of patients with subacute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded, 4-week trial, with follow-up at 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation education and research hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 inpatients with stroke (mean age, 63.5 y), all within 12 months poststroke and without volitional ankle dorsiflexion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty minutes per day of the mirror therapy program, consisting of nonparetic ankle dorsiflexion movements or sham therapy, in addition to a conventional stroke rehabilitation program, 5 days a week, 2 to 5 hours a day, for 4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Brunnstrom stages of motor recovery, spasticity assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), walking ability (Functional Ambulation Categories [FAC]), and motor functioning (motor items of the FIM instrument).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean change score and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the Brunnstrom stages (mean, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.1; vs mean, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.5-1.2; P=.002), as well as the FIM motor score (mean, 21.4; 95% CI, 18.2-24.7; vs mean, 12.5; 95% CI, 9.6-14.8; P=.001) showed significantly more improvement at follow-up in the mirror group compared with the control group. Neither MAS (mean, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4-1.2; vs mean, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.7; P=.102) nor FAC (mean, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.1; vs mean, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9; P=.610) showed a significant difference between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mirror therapy combined with a conventional stroke rehabilitation program enhances lower-extremity motor recovery and motor functioning in subacute stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: IVth Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sütbeyaz
authors.forename: Gunes
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yavuzer
authors.forename: Nebahat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.forename: B Füsun
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Koseoglu
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking