I'm not sure what a virtual mirror is so ask your therapist. Korean
http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/pdf/1743-0003-9-71.pdf
Abstract
Background
Several experimental studies in stroke patients suggest that mirror therapy and various virtual
reality programs facilitate motor rehabilitation. However, the underlying mechanisms for
these therapeutic effects have not been previously described.
Objectives
We attempted to delineate the changes in corticospinal excitability when individuals were
asked to exercise their upper extremity using a real mirror and virtual mirror. Moreover, we
attempted to delineate the role of visual modulation within the virtual environment that
affected corticospinal excitability in healthy subjects and stroke patients.
Methods
A total of 18 healthy subjects and 18 hemiplegic patients were enrolled into the study. Motor
evoked potential(MEP)s from transcranial magnetic stimulation were recorded in the flexor
carpi radialis of the non-dominant or affected upper extremity using three different
conditions: (A) relaxation; (B) real mirror; and (C) virtual mirror. Moreover, we compared
the MEPs from the virtual mirror paradigm using continuous visual feedback or intermittent
visual feedback.
Results
The rates of amplitude increment and latency decrement of MEPs in both groups were higher
during the virtual mirror task than during the real mirror. In healthy subjects and stroke
patients, the virtual mirror task with intermittent visual feedback significantly facilitated
corticospinal excitability of MEPs compared with continuous visual feedback.
Conclusion
Corticospinal excitability was facilitated to a greater extent in the virtual mirror paradigm
than in the real mirror and in intermittent visual feedback than in the continuous visual
feedback, in both groups. This provides neurophysiological evidence supporting the
application of the virtual mirror paradigm using various visual modulation technologies to
upper extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients.
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