Article

Mirror therapy has been proposed as an effective intervention for
lower limb rehabilitation post stroke. This systematic review
with meta-analysis examined if lower limb mirror therapy improved the primary
outcome measures of muscle tone and motor function and the secondary outcome
measures balance characteristics, functional ambulation, walking velocity,
passive range of motion (PROM) for ankle dorsiflexion and gait characteristics in
patients with stroke compared to other interventions.
METHODS: Standardised mean
differences (SMD) and mean differences (MD) were used to assess the effect of
mirror therapy on lower limb functioning. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in
the review. Among the primary outcome measures there was evidence of a
significant effect of mirror therapy on motor function compared with sham and
non-sham interventions (SMD 0.54; 95% CI 0.24-0.93). Furthermore, among the
secondary outcome measures there was evidence of a significant effect of mirror
therapy for balance capacity (SMD -0.55; 95% CI -1.01 to -0.10), walking velocity
(SMD 0.71; 95% CI 0.35-1.07), PROM for ankle dorsiflexion (SMD 1.20; 95% CI
0.71-1.69) and step length (SMD 0.56; 95% CI -0.00 to 1.12). SIGNIFICANCE: The
results indicate that using mirror therapy for the treatment of certain lower
limb deficits in patients with stroke may have a positive effect. Although
results are somewhat positive, overly favourable interpretation is cautioned due
to methodological issues concerning included studies.
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Langue : ANGLAIS