This review found that mirror therapy
can be safe and effective
. In fact, it improved upper and lower limb movement in affected limbs and the ability to conduct daily activities for up to and potentially beyond 6 months after stroke, with no side effects reported.
Is mirror box therapy evidence based?
When compared with all other interventions, we found
moderate-quality evidence
that mirror therapy has a significant positive effect on motor function (SMD 0.47, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.67; 1173 participants; 36 studies) and motor impairment (SMD 0.49, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.66; 1292 participants; 39 studies).
Is mirror therapy more effective than mental practice?
Mirror therapy and mental imagery are both good and cost-effective rehabilitation aids for amputee patients to reduce PLP, but
mirror therapy appears to be more effective than mental imagery
.
How long do you do mirror therapy for?
A typical mirror therapy session should last
about 30 minutes
, but patients can split this time up into three 10-minute or two 15-minute sessions, if preferred.
Why is mirror therapy shown effective?
Conclusions: Most of the evidence for mirror therapy is from studies with weak methodological quality. The present review showed a trend that mirror therapy is effective in
upper limb treatment of stroke patients
and patients with CRPS, whereas the effectiveness in other patient groups has yet to be determined.
Is mirroring therapy easy or difficult?
‘
Mirror boxes’ are relatively easy to build and large
, custom mirrors may be required for pain states in the lower limbs and shoulders. NOI recommends using sturdy Perspex mirrors to avoid any glass injuries. Start with exercises involving no or little movement – just watch your unaffected hand.
What is mirror therapy used for?
Mirror therapy is used to
improve motor function after stroke
. During mirror therapy, a mirror is placed in the person’s midsagittal plane, thus reflecting movements of the non‐paretic side as if it were the affected side.
What happens in the brain during mirror therapy?
Mirror therapy does this by tricking the brain: it
gives the illusion that the missing limb is moving, as the person looks at the real, remaining limb in a mirror
. This way, the brain ignores the fact that it receives no signal of movement from the amputated limb itself.
How is mirror therapy implemented?
- Place your affected arm behind a mirror so that when looking into the mirror the reflection of the unaffected arm appears in place of the hidden one.
- While looking into the mirror try to perform a series of basic movement exercises with both hands.
What is mirroring in therapy?
1. the conscious use of active listening by the therapist in psychotherapy, accompanied by
reflection of the client’s affect and body language
in order to stimulate a sense of empathy and to further the development of the therapeutic alliance.
Who invented mirror therapy?
Mirror therapy was unveiled by
Ramachandran and Rogers-Ramachandran
in 1996. Under this therapy, a patient is allowed to feel the imaginary movement of the removed body part behaving as normal body movement through a mirror [7].
Is mirror therapy effective for phantom limb pain?
Study findings showed that
self-delivered mirror therapy is indeed effective for phantom pain
. Almost half of the participants reported phantom pain reduction, with an average pain reduction of almost 40 percent. Ten participants reported phantom pain reduction greater than or equal to 40 percent.
What is mirror therapy occupational therapy?
Mirror therapy (also called mirror box therapy) is
a form of neuromuscular treatment used to help people who have suffered a stroke to reduce pain and regain function in the affected upper extremity
.
Are mirror neurons?
Mirror neurons represent a
distinctive class of neurons
that discharge both when an individual executes a motor act and when he observes another individual performing the same or a similar motor act. These neurons were first discovered in monkey’s brain.
How do you regain your hand after a stroke?
Hand Recovery After Stroke: A Summary
When you have neuroplasticity, repetitive practice, and consistency in place, recovery and healing are enhanced. Including
electrical stimulation, mirror therapy, and/
or MusicGlove into your exercise routine can improve your chances of increased function of the hand.
Is phantom limb pain real?
Phantom limb pain is a common occurrence after amputation or extremity loss. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed to seek help.
These feelings of pain are real
. It’s also possible to have an infection or other problem in the remaining part of the limb (the stump) that causes pain.
