Background: Stroke stands as a prominent contributor to enduring disability, inflicting motor and functional limitations upon survivors, significantly impacting their quality of life. Mirror therapy, a cost-effective and easy-to-use method, is increasingly employed in stroke rehabilitation to alleviate sensory-motor impairments and expedite limb recovery. This promising technique harnesses visual feedback to enhance neuroplasticity and boost post-stroke motor function. Method s: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among thirty stroke survivors; participants were assigned to either a mirror therapy (MT) group (n=15) or a standard rehabilitation group (n=15). The MT group underwent five 15-minute daily sessions for 14 days. Baseline data, including Barthel Index and Rivermead Mobility assessments, were gathered pre-intervention. Three-week post-intervention assessments targeted to investigate outcomes of MT in motor mobility and daily living activities in functional independence among stroke survivors. Results: A notable age difference was observed between the intervention (59±7.78) and comparison groups (58.8±6.50). The intervention group showed slightly more effects in Gross Function (d=0.162 vs. 0.132), Leg & Trunk (d=0.191 vs. 0.219), and Arm Function (d=0.323 vs. 0.205). Barthel Index effect size increased from small (d=0.261, CI 0.217–1.393) to large (d=0.172, CI 1.850–4.339). ANCOVA indicated no heteroscedasticity (F=0.704, p>0.05). A strong correlation (r=0.98) was found between daily functioning and motor function gains. Conclusion: MT effectively enhances daily activities in stroke survivors. However, statistical analysis showed no significant difference between groups in Rivermead scores (t = 0.17, p = 0.87). Yet, additional longitudinal studies are needed to thoroughly assess its impact on motor function improvement.
Kumar et al. (2025) studied this question.