http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40141-016-0131-8
Stroke Rehabilitation (G.E. Francisco, Section Editor)
- First Online:
DOI:
10.1007/s40141-016-0131-8
- Cite this article as:
- Hartman, K. & Altschuler, E.L. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep (2016). doi:10.1007/s40141-016-0131-8
Part of the following topical collections:
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Ramachandran (Nature 377:489–490, 1995)
showed that in amputees, phantom limb pain described as a spasming or
immobile phantom limb can be alleviated by watching their reflection of
the intact limb in a parasagittally placed mirror while moving the
intact limb and the phantom simultaneously. This suggested that therapy
via mirror visual feedback—mirror therapy—might be considered for other
diseases and conditions characterized by poor mobility. We were the
first to show that mirror therapy might be beneficial for hemiparesis
following stroke. There have now been numerous case reports and studies
of mirror therapy for hemiparesis following stroke.
Recent Findings
Overall, the majority of studies
done thus far on patients with hemiparesis in the subacute or chronic
phase following stroke find mirror therapy to be more beneficial than
control treatments. Even when mirror therapy is not superior to control
therapy, the reason for this is there are similar improvements in both
groups. There have not been adverse effects in patients that perform
mirror therapy for hemiparesis following stroke.
Summary
There appears to be a benefit of
mirror therapy for hemiparesis following stroke in the subacute and
chronic phase. Trial of mirror therapy for hemiparesis may be warranted.
Further study of mirror therapy for hemiparesis following stroke will
be welcomed; in particular, it would be important to study different
groups of patients given the heterogeneity of stroke.
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