title: Effect of mirror therapy combined with somatosensory stimulation on motor recovery and daily function in stroke patients: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mirror therapy (MT) has been recommended as a simple, inexpensive approach to treat motor dysfunction. The use of a mesh glove (MG) was suggested to normalize muscle tone that ameliorates motor impairment. Combining two efficient treatment protocols might maximize the benefits from training. This study investigated the effects of MT combined with MG (MG + MT) versus MT alone on motor performance and daily function after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with chronic unilateral stroke were recruited. A randomized two-group pretest and posttest design was used to randomly assign participants to MG + MT or MT groups. MT involves repetitive bimanual, symmetrical movement practice in which the individual moves the affected limb as much as she/he could while watching the reflective illusion of the unaffected limb's movements from a mirror. The MG + MT group wore a MG on the affected hand during the MT. The Modified Ashworth scale of muscle spasticity (MAS), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Box and Block Test (BBT), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were administered to evaluate spasticity, and motor and daily function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results for the BBT (p = 0.013), total scores (p = 0.031), grasping subscales (p = 0.036) of ARAT, and FIM transfer scores (p = 0.013) presented significantly large effects in favor of the MG + MT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining MG with MT significantly improves manual dexterity, grasping, and transfer performance. Adding the MG component into the MT likely increased the richness of sensory input and improved the movement performance more than MT alone.
authors: School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Keh-Chung
authors: KC
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Ting
authors: YT
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Pai-Chuan
authors: PC
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: cywu@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors: Ching-Yi
authors: CY
authors: Wu
authors: Nursing Home of Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Wen-Ling
authors: WL
authors: Huang
authors: Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Zhongxiao Branch of Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hsiu-Wen
authors: HW
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Lo-Sheng Sanatorium, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Hui-Tsz
authors: HT
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Hung-Ju
authors: HJ
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D034941:Upper Extremity
keywords: activities of daily living; motor function; rehabilitation; stroke; upper extremity