title: The effects of mirror therapy on the gait of subacute stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of mirror therapy on the gait of patients with subacute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with stroke were randomly assigned to two groups: a mirror therapy group (experimental) and a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The stroke patients in the experimental group underwent comprehensive rehabilitation therapy and mirror therapy for the lower limbs. The stroke patients in the control group underwent sham therapy and comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. Participants in both groups received therapy five days per week for four weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Temporospatial gait characteristics, such as single stance, stance phase, step length, stride, swing phase, velocity, and cadence, were assessed before and after the four weeks therapy period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference was observed in post-training gains for the single stance (10.32 SD 4.14 vs. 6.54 SD 3.23), step length (8.47 SD 4.12 vs. 4.83 SD 2.14), and stride length (17.03 SD 6.57 vs 10.54 SD 4.34) between the experimental group and the control group (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between two groups on stance phase, swing phase, velocity, cadence, and step width (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that mirror therapy may be beneficial in improving the effects of stroke on gait ability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Gu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Youngsan University, Kyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea skybird-98@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Myoung Kwon
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009903:Optical Illusions; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Stroke; randomized controlled trial; rehabilitation interventions