Effect of Mirror Therapy on Lower Extremity Motor Control and Gait in Patients With Stroke

Mirror therapy may be an effective intervention in increasing motor control and gait performance in patients with stroke.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Traditional Physical Therapy; Other: Physical Therapy plus Mirror Therapy

Detailed Description

Using a mirrored image of the uninvolved extremity superimposed upon the involved extremity during exercise may facilitate improved motor control in patients after stroke.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 33
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Mississippi
    • Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 39216
      • University of Mississippi Medical Center - University Rehabilitation

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• lower extremity Brunnstrom stage 2,
• lower extremity modified ashworth < 3,
• has the ability to follow 3-step command in English,
• has only unilateral involvement.

Exclusion Criteria:

• lower extremity Brunnstrom stage 1,
• lower extremity modified ashworth 3 or higher,
• history of prior stroke,
• Passive Range of Motion limitation of hip and or knee flexion < 90,
• has visual deficits which prevent participation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Traditional Physical Therapy; The control group will receive traditional physical therapy interventions directed at neuromuscular rehabilitation.	Other: Traditional Physical Therapy; Traditional physical therapy includes, but is not limited to, therapeutic exercise, functional mobility training, pre-gait and gait activities, electrotherapeutic modalities, and education.
Experimental: Physical Therapy plus Mirror Therapy; The mirror therapy will entail 15 minutes of exercises for the lower extremities focusing on ankle dorsiflexion, knee flexion, and hip flexion.	Other: Physical Therapy plus Mirror Therapy; The treatment group will receive traditional physical therapy intervention as described in the control group with the addition of mirror therapy. The participant will attempt to perform the flexion exercises with both lower extremities. The patient will be blinded to the affected lower extremity with a mirror, and will be looking at the image of the unaffected lower extremity superimposed on the affected lower extremity as he or she performs the activities.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Independence Measure - Locomotor Score	The Functional Independence Measure (FIM)assesses level of disability and measures progress toward independence with rehabilitational intervention. The tool consists of 18 items. Only the the locomotor score was used to assess gait ability in this study. The locomotor score ranges from 1 - 7 with a higher score indicating a higher level of functional independence.	measured at admission and discharge from rehab estimated length of stay 14 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Timed Up and Go	The Timed Up and Go (TUG) is used to assess balance and gait, and to estimate fall risks in patients with deficits. The participant rises from a seated position in a chair, walks 3 meters, turns around, returns to the chair, and sits down. The test is measured in seconds, with a lower number indicating a higher level of independence and the least risk for falls.	Measured at admission and discharge with estimated length of stay 14 days
Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement	The Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM)is designed to measure mobility and motor ability after stroke. There are three subscales with 10 items each assessing the upper extremity, lower extremity, and basic mobility. Only the lower extremity and basic mobility items were used in this study. The lower extremity scores ranged from 0 - 18 with higher scores indicating a higher level of motor control. The basic mobility scores ranged from 0 - 30 with high numbers indicating a higher level of functional mobility.	measured at admission and discharge with estimated length of stay 14 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lisa J Barnes, PT DPT, University of Mississippi Medical Center; Study Director: Keri H McCullough, DPT, University of Mississippi Medical Center - University Rehabilitation; Study Director: Kim C Wilcox, PT MsPT PhD, University of Mississippi Medical Center - Director of Neurologic Residency Program

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 9, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): April 10, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 11, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 4, 2014
• Last Verified: September 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Stroke
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2010-0244

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No