Mirror Therapy Improves the Motor and Timed Functional Ability of the Upper Extremity among Chronic Stroke Patients: A Prospective Single-Blinded Multicentred Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background

Around 80% of stroke survivors experience upper-limb impairment during the acute phase, with 55% to 75% still affected after 6 months, hindering their daily activities. Consequently, upper-limb rehabilitation has become essential in post-stroke management, leading to innovative therapeutic methods. Despite the variety of available techniques, Mirror Therapy stands out as a feasible and cost-effective option alongside conventional physical therapy. This study aims to assess the impact of Mirror Therapy on improving motor and timed functional abilities of the upper extremities in chronic stroke patients in Saudi Arabia.

Methodology

This study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial, which was conducted at 3 Ministry of Health hospitals in Saudi Arabia with 38 chronic stroke patients randomly assigned into two treatment arms, experimental group (n = 19) and control group (n = 19). The study was registered in clinicaltrails.gov with the registration ID NCT06698380. The experimental group received 45 min of training three days a week for six weeks. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function S Test (WMFT) were used as outcome measures. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were obtained.

Results

The participants’ average age was 54.97 ± 7.11 years, with an average height of 165.66 ± 11.21 cm, weight of 78.92 ± 18.96 kg, and BMI of 28.71 ± 6.19 kg/m². Among them, the majority of participants were male (68.4%), with ischemic strokes being the most prevalent type (73.7%). The FMA-US and WMFT scores showed significant improvement in the experimental group (p < 0.001) when compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Mirror Therapy significantly enhances motor ability and timed functional activities in the upper extremity of chronic stroke patients.