Mirror Therapy Combined with Conventional Physiotherapy for Improving Hand and Arm Recovery After Acute Stroke A Randomized Controlled Study in Patients Aged 40 to 55

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to determine if adding mirror therapy to conventional physiotherapy can improve upper-limb motor recovery, hand function, spasticity, and range of motion in people who have had an acute stroke. The study compares mirror therapy plus standard physiotherapy against physiotherapy alone, focusing on stroke patients aged 40 to 55 years within one month of their stroke. The trial evaluates outcomes using established scales such as the Action Research Arm Test ARAT, Motor Assessment Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale, and goniometric range of motion measurements. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group receives mirror therapy sessions lasting 20 minutes each twice a week for one week, where a mirror reflects movements of the non-affected limb to create the illusion of normal movement in the affected limb. This is immediately followed by 20 minutes of conventional physiotherapy involving strengthening and functional tasks. The control group receives only conventional physiotherapy of the same duration and schedule but without mirror therapy. Centers may extend treatment duration as needed under protocol amendment. During the study, participants will undergo assessments of motor function and hand abilities at baseline and follow-up, including standardized tests like the ARAT at six months. Researchers will monitor muscle spasticity, range of motion, and motor skills using clinical scales and measurements. The total participation includes initial treatment over one week and outcome evaluation at six months to assess long-term motor recovery after acute stroke.

Mirror Therapy for Hand Function Recovery in Acute Stroke