Effects of Task-Based Mirror Therapy for Post-stroke Shoulder-Hand Syndrome

February 23, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Task-based Mirror Therapy on Edema, Pain and Upper Limb Motor Function for Post-stroke Shoulder-hand Syndrome

The study aims to determine the effects of task-based mirror therapy on edema, pain and upper limb motor function with shoulder-hand syndrome in post stroke patients.

This randomized clinical trial will take place at Ittefaq Hospital and Trust Lahore and Alara healthcare clinic, Lahore involving 34 participants aged 45-75 years. Using a non-probability convenience sampling method, participants will be randomly assigned by online randomizing tool into two groups: experimental group (17 participants) and control group (17 participants). Both groups will undergo treatment for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, over four weeks. Each task will be performed by repeating each movement 20 times per set for three sets, with a 2-minute break between sets. There will also be 2-minute intervals between each completed task Outcome measures will include pain intensity assessed by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), edema measured by the figure-of-eight method, and upper limb motor function evaluated using the Functional Independence measure (FIM). Assessments will occur at baseline and post-intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Stroke is a sudden neurological loss caused by cerebral vascular damage. Upper extremity paralysis is the most prevalent symptom in stroke patients. Stroke-related paralysis is typically caused by internal capsule injury. Neuroplasticity, which involves multiple sections of the brain, is necessary to heal from this damage.Upper extremity function makes up 60% of total body function, with hand function accounting for 90% of that. Shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS), a chronic neurological condition that can develop after a stroke, is defined by excruciating discomfort, edema, vasomotor instability, and impaired motor performance. SHS is often referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the upper limb or poststroke complicated regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The development of upper limb discomfort and edema observed in SHS was attributed to hemiparetic arms. After a stroke autonomic and motor dysfunction, as well as upper limb pain, can be symptoms of SHS. Pathophysiologic mechanisms may include somatosensory and central autonomic system in brain, peripheral sensitization as hyperexcitability of the afferent fibers and inflammation of peripheral nerves and central mechanism as maladaptive neuroplasticity of motor cortex.

Mirror therapy is an attractive treatment option for clinical practice because it is simple to implement, relatively inexpensive, less intimidating for patients, and often equally or more effective than many alternative treatments. However, not all mirror therapy studies involving stroke victims have yielded such encouraging results. One study observed that the positive effects of mirror therapy decreased over time, and that mirror therapy involving the repetition of simple movements produced improvements during the start of treatment but were followed by a gradual decrease in function as the patients became bored with the movements and began resisting therapy. Based on this observation, mirror therapy programs that incorporate a variety of functional tasks were proposed to be more effective than those involving only simple movements designed to mimic tasks. It was also suggested the use more functional and task-oriented programs that involved picking up a coin because simple movements restrict the functional recovery of more complicated movements performed using the upper extremity. It was observed that treatment was more effective when an actual coin was used rather than when the same motion was performed without a coin.

Traditional rehabilitation methods often inadequately address the specific symptoms of SHS, creating a compelling case for innovative approaches like TBMT. This method uses visual feedback to improve motor function while engaging patients in purposeful, task-oriented exercises. Mirror treatment improves brain plasticity and motor recovery. This study will help us understand the effects of this treatment method and will pay ways for upgraded treatment strategies to improve symptoms and may have better outcomes and prognosis.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

34

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
        • Recruiting
        • Alara healthcare clinic
        • Contact:
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
        • Recruiting
        • Ittefaq Hospital and Trust Lahore
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria: Age 45 to 75 years.

  • Both male and female patients are included in the study.
  • Subacute stroke patients having stroke less than 6 months are included in this study.
  • Stable participants having a stroke severity score > 6 on National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).
  • Modified Ashworth scale score ≤ 2 of the affected upper extremity.
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 24.
  • Patients who can sit with or without support.
  • No contractures of the affected shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers.
  • Participants who have no history of peripheral nerve injury or musculoskeletal disease

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Participants who have medical problems or co-morbidities that interdict their participation in the study.

    • Patients with severe apraxia, somatosensory problems.
    • Unilateral neglect
    • Severe contractures of the affected shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger.
    • Participants who show the symptoms of global or receptive aphasia.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group A
Task based mirror therapy
Other: Task based mirror therapy
Group A will undergo treatment for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, over four weeks. Each task will be performed by repeating each movement 20 times per set for three sets, with a 2-minute break between sets. There will also be 2-minute intervals between each completed task
Active Comparator: group B
Conventional exercises
Other: Conventional exercises
Group B will undergo treatment for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, over four weeks. Each task will be performed by repeating each movement 20 times per set for three sets, with a 2-minute break between sets. There will also be 2-minute intervals between each completed task

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: Baseline
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is an effective tool for assessing pain intensity in stroke patients, utilizing a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable." This scale is particularly valuable in stroke populations due to its simplicity and quick administration, allowing for effective communication of pain levels even in individuals with cognitive or physical impairments.
Baseline
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is an effective tool for assessing pain intensity in stroke patients, utilizing a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable." This scale is particularly valuable in stroke populations due to its simplicity and quick administration, allowing for effective communication of pain levels even in individuals with cognitive or physical impairments.
4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Figure of 8 measurement method
Time Frame: Baseline
Figure 8 measurement method is a practical technique used to assess edema in the hand, particularly following a stroke. This method involves wrapping a flexible measuring tape around the hand and wrist in a figure-eight pattern, allowing for consistent measurements at specific anatomical points. It begins by placing the tape at the ulnar aspect of the wrist, passing it across the palm and around the fingers, and then returning to the starting point. Abnormal values indicating edema may be defined as an increase of more than 1-2 cm compared to the unaffected hand, signifying potential swelling due to conditions such as stroke, trauma, or inflammation
Baseline
Figure of 8 measurement method
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Figure 8 measurement method is a practical technique used to assess edema in the hand, particularly following a stroke. This method involves wrapping a flexible measuring tape around the hand and wrist in a figure-eight pattern, allowing for consistent measurements at specific anatomical points. It begins by placing the tape at the ulnar aspect of the wrist, passing it across the palm and around the fingers, and then returning to the starting point. Abnormal values indicating edema may be defined as an increase of more than 1-2 cm compared to the unaffected hand, signifying potential swelling due to conditions such as stroke, trauma, or inflammation
4 weeks
Functional independence measure [FIM]
Time Frame: Baseline
The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) assesses a patient's level of independence in daily activities following a stroke. It includes various domains such as self-care, mobility, and social cognition. An admission FIM score > 70 has been associated with achieving non-dependence by discharge whereas those with an admission score < 50 remained dependent
Baseline
Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) assesses a patient's level of independence in daily activities following a stroke. It includes various domains such as self-care, mobility, and social cognition. An admission FIM score > 70 has been associated with achieving non-dependence by discharge whereas those with an admission score < 50 remained dependent
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Binash Afzal, PHD, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 5, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 12, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 8, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 23, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/0285 Maha Sahar

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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