Effect of Mirror Therapy on Lower Extremity Motor Control and Gait in Patients With Stroke

University of Mississippi

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Other: Physical Therapy plus Mirror Therapy; Other: Traditional Physical Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01574079

2010-0244

Details and patient eligibility

About

Mirror therapy may be an effective intervention in increasing motor control and gait performance in patients with stroke.

Full description

Using a mirrored image of the uninvolved extremity superimposed upon the involved extremity during exercise may facilitate improved motor control in patients after stroke.

Enrollment: 33 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• lower extremity Brunnstrom stage 2,
• lower extremity modified ashworth < 3,
• has the ability to follow 3-step command in English,
• has only unilateral involvement.

Exclusion criteria

• lower extremity Brunnstrom stage 1,
• lower extremity modified ashworth 3 or higher,
• history of prior stroke,
• Passive Range of Motion limitation of hip and or knee flexion < 90,
• has visual deficits which prevent participation.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

33 participants in 2 patient groups

Traditional Physical Therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group will receive traditional physical therapy interventions directed at neuromuscular rehabilitation.

Treatment:

Other: Traditional Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy plus Mirror Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

The mirror therapy will entail 15 minutes of exercises for the lower extremities focusing on ankle dorsiflexion, knee flexion, and hip flexion.

Treatment:

Other: Physical Therapy plus Mirror Therapy