Effect of Mirror Therapy for Patients with Post-Stroke Paralysis of Upper Limb-Randomized Cross-over Study-

Accession number;06A0339881
Title;Effect of Mirror Therapy for Patients with Post-Stroke Paralysis of Upper Limb-Randomized Cross-over Study-
Author;TEZUKA YASUKI(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   FUJIWARA MOTOMI(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   KIKUCHI KAYO(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   OGAWA SHINJI(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   TOKUNAGA NAHOKO(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   ICHIKAWA AKIKO(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   MATSUO ATSUSHI(Kioudai)   TOKUHISA KENTARO(Yuukoukai Nishiyamatorihabiriteshonbyouin)   OTA TADANOBU(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   KATSUYAMA SHINSUKE(Seichokai Fuchu Hospital, JPN)   
Journal Title;Journal of Japanese Physical Therapy Association
Journal Code:Y0738A
ISSN:0289-3770
VOL.33;NO.2;PAGE.62-68(2006)
Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.4, TBL.1, REF.20
Pub. Country;Japan
Language;Japanese
Abstract;Recently, several novel post-stroke therapeutic approaches for the upper limb have been reported. Ramachandran developed mirror therapy (MT) for phantom pain treatment, and applied it to the treatment of the upper limb of post-stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of MT on sub-acute stroke patients with upper limb paralysis. A randomized cross-over design was used for this study. Subjects were 15 in-patients within 3 months from onset, comprising the MT group and control group, consisting of 9 patients and 6 patients, respectively. While patients in the MT group made active movements of the unaffected hand (e.g., right hand), the patient watched the moving image of the unaffected (right) hand reflected in the mirror and passive movements were given to the affected hand (e.g., left hand) by the therapist behind the mirror inside the mirror box. The control group only received passive movements to the affected hand by the therapist without usage of the mirror. After four weeks of receiving therapeutic treatment, the applied methods were then exchanged between the two groups. The functional capabilities of the upper limbs were measured both before and after each therapeutic treatment. A therapist who had not participated in the therapeutic treatment evaluated the process, with the type of treatment being masked using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale. The data was statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. The MT group showed a significant improvement in upper limb function, but no significant improvement was seen before or after therapeutic treatment for the control group. These results suggest that MT is an effective method of treatment for upper limb paralysis in sub-acute stroke patients. (author abst.)