Mirror therapy enhances lower-extremity motor recovery and motor functioning after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
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.
Sütbeyaz
Serap
S
IVth Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Yavuzer
Gunes
G
Sezer
Nebahat
N
Koseoglu
B Füsun
BF
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