title: The clinical aspects of mirror therapy in rehabilitation: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical aspects of mirror therapy (MT) interventions after stroke, phantom limb pain and complex regional pain syndrome. A systematic literature search of the Cochrane Database of controlled trials, PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PEDro, RehabTrials and Rehadat, was made by two investigators independently (A.S.R. and M.J.). No restrictions were made regarding study design and type or localization of stroke, complex regional pain syndrome and amputation. Only studies that had MT given as a long-term treatment were included. Two authors (A.S.R. and S.M.B.) independently assessed studies for eligibility and risk of bias by using the Amsterdam-Maastricht Consensus List. Ten randomized trials, seven patient series and four single-case studies were included. The studies were heterogeneous regarding design, size, conditions studied and outcome measures. Methodological quality varied; only a few studies were of high quality. Important clinical aspects, such as assessment of possible side effects, were only insufficiently addressed. For stroke there is a moderate quality of evidence that MT as an additional intervention improves recovery of arm function, and a low quality of evidence regarding lower limb function and pain after stroke. The quality of evidence in patients with complex regional pain syndrome and phantom limb pain is also low. Firm conclusions could not be drawn. Little is known about which patients are likely to benefit most from MT, and how MT should preferably be applied. Future studies with clear descriptions of intervention protocols should focus on standardized outcome measures and systematically register adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Health and Technique, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen, The Netherlands. a.s.rothgangel@hszuyd.nl
authors.forename: Andreas Stefan
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rothgangel
authors.forename: Susy M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Anna J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Beurskens
authors.forename: Rüdiger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Derick T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Wade
mesh_terms: D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014796:Visual Perception