• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.212-216
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• 2021

Objective: Mirror therapy is one of the promising methods suggested for the upper limb rehabilitation of stroke patients. While mirror therapy was presented to be effective in improving motor function of stroke patients, problems were raised as preceding studies had various methods in applying mirror therapy. Some studies even reported no effect in mirror therapy. Our supposition for the reason of such problems was a decrease of attention on the illusive image during mirror therapy of stroke patients, and we aimed to observe this. Design: A cross-sectional preliminary study. Methods: Three hemiplegic acute patients were recruited for the traditional mirror therapy. It lasted for 30 minutes, and 12 different tasks were asked to perform. All procedures were video-recorded, and Observer XT was used to analyse mirror-gazing time, gaze-distracted time, preparation time, frequency of mirror gazing, frequency of distraction, frequency of preparation for treatment. Results: Subjects spent an average of 4-5 minutes having instructions about the mirror therapy intervention (preparation duration), an average of 11 minutes watching the mirror during therapy (mirror-gazing duration), and the rest of 14-15 minutes looking around the environment (gaze-distracted duration). During the mirror therapy, the number of distracted moments (frequency of distraction) was eight times more than focusing on the mirror (frequency of mirror gazing). Conclusions: Once the patient looks at the mirror, it only lasts about 5 seconds on average. Thus, we confirmed that patients could not concentrate on the illusion during the session and therefore it may have affected the effectiveness of the therapy.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 2014

The aim of the present study was to examine whether mirror therapy, in conjunction with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), can improve the upper extremity function of stroke patient. This study was conducted with 35 subjects, who were diagnosed as a hemiparesis by stroke. The Mirror plus rTMS group was of 12 members who undertook mirror therapy in conjunction with rTMS, the Mirror group was of 11 members who undertook mirror therapy, and the control group was of 12 members who undertook sham therapy. A motor cortex excitability was performed by motor evoked potential, and upper limb function was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and Box and Block Test. Significant difference was shown after the experiment, in comparison of the groups in terms of latency, and as the result of post hoc test, significant difference was shown between the Mirror plus rTMS group and control group, and between the Mirror group and control group, respectively. Significant difference was shown after the experiment in comparison of the groups in amplitude, and as the result of post hoc test, significant difference was shown between the Mirror plus rTMS group and Mirror group, and between the Mirror plus rTMS group and control group. Significant difference was shown after the experiment, in comparison of the groups in FMA and BBT, and as the result of post hoc test, significant difference was shown between the Mirror plus rTMS group and Mirror group, and between the Mirror group and control group. The study showed that mirror therapy in conjunction with rTMS is more effective to improve upper extremity function, than mirror therapy and sham therapy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.41-51
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• 2016

PURPOSE : The purpose of this study was to identify whether 3D motion input device based mirror therapy could improve on upper extremity function, quality of life and depression in chronic stroke patients METHOD : Thirty six patients with chronic stroke were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups: 3D leapmotion mirror therapy group, mirror therapy group, and sham therapy group. 3D leapmotion mirror therapy group performed 3D motion input device based mirror therapy, mirror therapy group performed general mirror therapy, control group performed sham therapy. All patients received a total of 15 exercise session over a 5 week period (three times per week). Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper extremity(FMA-UE), Stroke Specific-Quality of Life(SS-QOL), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) were performed prior to and five weeks after the treatment RESULT : Subjects in the 3D leapmotion mirror therapy group showed significant improvements in upper extremity function, quality of life and depression following training. The changes of upper extremity function, quality of life and depression in the 3D leapmotion mirror therapy group were significantly more than them of the control group. CONCLUSION : The result of this study suggest that 3D motion input device based mirror therapy is an intervention to improve on upper extremity function, quality of life and depression in chronic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.62-68
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined whether mirror therapy could improve the balance, gait, and motor function of patients with subacute stroke. Methods: Thirty-three patients with subacute stroke were divided randomly into three groups: experimental group1, experimental group2, and the control group. The patients in experimental group1 performed a mirror therapy program on the unaffected side of the lower extremities, and the patients in experimental group2 performed mirror therapy on the affected side of the lower extremities. Both groups performed the exercise for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for four weeks. The control group did not receive mirror therapy. BBS, POMA, 10MWT, and the BRS were used to evaluate the balance, the quality of gait, gait speed, and the motor function before and after the intervention. Results: The gait speed increased significantly in the experimental groups1 and 2 after the intervention. The control group showed no significant difference in the gait speed after the intervention. The change in gait speed before and after the intervention showed a significant difference among the groups. Experimental group1 showed a significant increase in the gait speed compared to that of the control group. Conclusion: This study suggests that mirror therapy could be an effective intervention to improve the gait speed of patients with subacute stroke. On the other hand, there was no difference in the effectiveness of mirror therapy and therapeutic exercise on the balance, gait, and motor function.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2014

Recent years, mirror therapy or mirror neuron therapy has been used to improve neural damage of upper extremities among stroke patients. This systematic review was conducted to assess the clinical effect of mirror therapy used for the treatment of upper extremities for patients with stroke. After literature search, researchers selected for 9 randomized controlled clinical trial studies registered up to October 2013 based on PubMed database, using the following search terms: mirror therapy, mirror neuron, stroke, paresis, hemiplegia, upper extremity. There were significant improves of distal upper extremity function in the use of mirror therapy groups but the research using range of motion(ROM) as outcome measure. In conclusion, mirror therapy was more effective than conventional therapies or sham therapies for upper recovery of distal upper extremity function among stroke patients.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2024

This meta-analysis systematically reviewed studies on mirror therapy focused on arm and hand function in stroke patients, aiming to comprehensively assess the efficacy of mirror therapy interventions and furnish empirical support for its potential application and future development in the context of stroke rehabilitation. A rigorous search for articles published in international journals up to the year 2022 was conducted. Various assessment tools were employed to calculate effect sizes, evaluating the impact of mirror therapy on arm and hand function in stroke patients. Utilizing a random-effects model, mean effect sizes were determined, yielding a total effect size of 0.545. The effect sizes for the Brunnstrom Recovery Stage (BRS), Box and Block Test (BBT), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and grip strength test were 0.957, 0.596, 0.490, 0.488, and 0.417, respectively. In summary, we suggest that mirror therapy engenders positive changes in functional recovery among stroke patients, establishing a foundation for its tailored clinical application based on individual subject characteristics.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 2013

The Purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effectiveness of mirror therapy for stroke. Moreover, this paper was designed to summarize clarified information of neurological plasticity by mirror therapy to finally define the neurological mechanism. Mirror therapy improves the stroke patients' hand and arm motor function. It also has a positive influence on recovering performance of activities of daily living and relieving pain. However, it is not evident that mirror therapy restores visual neglect. There are various ways of recovering stroke. Fundamentally, all the theories are on a bases of restoration of premotor area. Premotor area which is associated with motor control increases the activation of primary motor area and finally improves patients' motor function. If primary motor area is completely damaged, premotor area and supplementary motor substitute for primary motor area. In summary of literature survey, there are not enough evidence to verify the effectiveness and neurological mechanism of mirror therapy. In future, more researches should be conducted to verify the neurological recovery through mirror therapy. Then, mirror therapy will be acknowledged as a clinically effective treatment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.48-58
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mirror therapy on motor function recovery following a stroke through a systemic review and meta-analysis. In total, nine of the 48 studies were identified from search engines between 1997 and 2011, as well as from a review of the reference lists of each identified study. The quality of each study was assessed using Jadad scale, and the effect size was calculated as a Cohen's effect size using MetaAnalyst (Beta 3.13). The overall effect size of the mirror therapy was 2.005 (95% confidence interval=1.041~2.970) in a random-effects model. This finding suggests that mirror therapy is beneficial for improving motor function following a stroke. The results from the subgroup analysis according to categorical variables were as follows: First, the effect size was larger for an onset time of less than 1 year (1.166) than for a duration of 1 year or more (.668). Second, the effect size of unpublished dissertations (1.610) was larger than published articles (1.221). Third, motor recovery of upper extremities (1.609) had a greater effect than motor recovery of lower extremities (.903). The major limitation of this study is the relatively small study population. Therefore, further individual studies of mirror therapy should be conducted in order to generalize the effects. In addition, mirror therapy supervised by a physical therapist should be recognized as a potential approach to manage motor function following a stroke and recommended to patients to improve their motor function.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.45-53
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this article was to review the literature on mirror neuron system with reference to its functional diversity in stroke rehabilitation.. Method : This review outlines scientific findings regarding different neurophysiological properties in mirror neurons, and discusses their involvement in process of stroke rehabilitation. Result & Conclusions : Mirror neurons were first discovered in macaque monkey. These neurons, like most neurons in F5 areas in premotor cortex, fired when an individual performs an action, as well as when he/she observes a similar action done by another individual, although originally fired only during action execution. Mirror neurons form a network for motor planning and initiating of motor action. Thus, in stroke rehabilitation based on the mirror neuron-action observation, motor imagery, observation with intent to imitate and imitation-may help activate mirror neuron system for improved outcome of physical therapy. These studies provide a scientific theoretical basis and discuss for the use of mirror neuron system as a complement to clinical physical therapy in stroke rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of action observation training (AOT) and mirror therapy in improving the electroencephalograms (EEG) of stroke patients. Methods: Patients were allocated randomly to three groups: an action observation training with activity (AOTA) group (n=12), a mirror therapy with activity (MTA) group (n=11), and an AOT-only group (n=12). All groups received conventional physiotherapy in five 60-minute sessions over six weeks. The AOTA, MTA, and AOT groups practiced AOTA, MTA, and AOT, respectively, in three 30-minute sessions over six weeks. The differences between the pre- and post-treatment EEGs were assessed using a paired t-test. Comparisons between the groups were performed using one-way ANOVA. Results: The participants in the AOTA and MTA groups showed significant improvement in the EEG. AOTA improved the alpha waves of the prefrontal, temporal, and parietal lobes significantly (p<0.05). MTA improved the alpha waves of the temporal lobe significantly (p<0.05). AOT did not result in significant improvement Conclusion: AOTA and MTA improve stroke patients' EEGs. Mirror neuron activation combined with conventional stroke physiotherapy promotes motor recovery and functioning. The effect is enhanced when the actions are executed after observation. Further research into mirror neuron activation will be needed to develop methods to improve the EEGs of stroke patients.