title: Mirror Therapy with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for improving motor function of stroke survivors: A pilot randomized clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to investigate the effects of Mirror Therapy (MT) combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength and tone, motor function, balance, and gait ability in stroke survivors with hemiplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized controlled trial. Twenty-seven hemiplegic stroke survivors from a rehabilitation center participated in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group (n = 14) underwent MT combined with NMES and conventional physical therapy, and the control group (n = 13) underwent conventional physical therapy alone. Muscle strength and tone, balance, and gait ability were examined at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention. A hand-held dynamometer was used to assess muscle strength, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) was used to assess muscle tone, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) were used to ascertain balance, and the 6-m Walk Test (6mWT) was used to examine gait ability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the intervention, compared to baseline values, there were significant improvements in muscle strength and MAS, BBS, TUG, and 6mWT values in the experimental group (P< 0.05). In addition, at post-intervention, there were significant differences between the two groups in muscle strength and BBS (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MT combined with NMES may effectively improve muscle strength and balance in hemiplegic stroke survivors. However, further studies are necessary to demonstrate brain reorganization after MT combined with NMES.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungnam University, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: DongGeon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungnam University, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: GyuChang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Saessac Children Developmental Center, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: JiSim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Mirror Therapy; Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation; Stroke; lower extremity