Article

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of mirror therapy on
recovery in the severely impaired arm after stroke. DESIGN: Using single-blind
randomized controlled design, patients with severely impaired arm within 1-month
post-stroke were assigned to receive mirror therapy (n = 20) or control therapy
(n = 21), 30 mins twice daily for 4 wks in addition to conventional
rehabilitation. During mirror therapy and control therapy, subjects practiced
similar structured exercises in both arms, except that mirror reflection of the
unaffected arm was the visual feedback for mirror therapy, but mirror was absent
for control therapy so that subjects could watch both arms in exercise.
Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Wolf Motor Function Test were the outcome measurements.
RESULTS: After the intervention, both mirror therapy and control therapy groups
had significant arm recovery similarly in Fugl-Meyer Assessment (P = 0.867), Wolf
Motor Function Test-Time (P = 0.947) and Wolf Motor Function Test-Functional
Ability Scale (P = 0.676). CONCLUSION: Mirror therapy or control therapy, which
involved exercises concurrently for the paretic and unaffected arms during
subacute stroke, promoted similar motor recovery in the severely impaired arm.

Langue : ANGLAIS