EC Neurology

As compared to the other stroke-related therapies Mirror therapy (MT) in the stroke rehabilitation can be used in all type of stroke survivors (severe and non-severe) visual stimulus is being used for initiating a desirable motor response in limbs of the stroke pa- tient. Literature shows that MT has considerable measurable effects on the motor impairments, visuospatial neglect, sensory impair- ment and pain/discomfort. This paper is a review of the current perspective and understanding on the MT in the rehabilitation of the stroke survivors. An electronic data base search across the Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Science direct, Cochrane etc. generated 3871 result. Based on the inclusion criteria’s set for the study, 35 studies were included in this review after the systematic filtration of the papers. The collected data were divided on the basis of the it’s (MT) application in the stroke rehabilitation, its intervention’s mode, dosage, type of control and outcome assessment. We found that majority of the selected studies were intervened for motor impair- ment mostly in the stroke survivors within the upper limb. Studies were categorized in to groups based on the intervention between chronic and acute phase stroke with the therapy duration 1 - 8 weeks. Across all the selected studies MT showed significant motor improvement than the sensory improvement in the stroke survivors. The effectiveness and feasibility of MT has been reported (both for the patients and staff) and commonly used therapeutic approach in the rehabilitation of the post-stroke survivors in all stroke’s stages. However, ADLs based longer term effectiveness of MT and on overall health needs to be further investigated and documented.

Keywords: SMirror Therapy; Stroke Rehabilitation; Motor Impairment; Sensory Impairment; Pain; Unilateral Neglect; Hemi-Neglect

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