Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mirror Therapy and Mirror Mode of Hand Robot in Stroke (mirror_robot)

April 12, 2026 updated by: Zeynep Lide Uz

Comparison of The Effectiveness Of Mirror Therapy And Mirror Mode of a Hand Robot in Upper Extremity Motor Recovery After Stroke

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of conventional mirror therapy and robotic mirror mode training in promoting upper extremity motor recovery in adult patients with ischemic stroke during the early subacute phase. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does mirror mode of a robotic hand device result in greater motor function recovery compared to conventional mirror therapy?

Are there differences between the groups in somatosensory improvement and gross motor skill outcomes?

Do both intervention modalities result in clinically significant improvements in motor and functional outcomes?

Researchers will compare a conventional mirror therapy group and a robotic-assisted mirror mode group to determine which provides more significant gains in motor function, somatosensory input, and functional use of the paretic arm.

Participants will:

Receive standard physiotherapy sessions for 6 weeks

Be randomly assigned to either mirror therapy or robotic mirror mode intervention

Be evaluated using Fugl-Meyer Assessment, ARAT, Box and Block Test, Wolf Motor Function Test and Tactile/proprioceptive sensory test using Fugl-Meyer Assessment Sensory subsection.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Upper extremity motor impairment is one of the leading causes of functional disability following stroke. Although conventional therapies promote some degree of recovery, restoring hand function remains a major challenge, particularly in patients with severe paresis. Mirror therapy has been widely used due to its affordability and portability. However, proprioceptive feedback limitations and the potential mismatch between visual and somatosensory input reduce its effectiveness.

This study investigates an innovative approach that combines visual illusion and proprioceptive input using a robotic hand device in mirror mode. The robotic intervention is designed to synchronize joint motion with visual feedback, potentially enhancing the mirror neuron system's activation and promoting neuroplastic changes more efficiently than conventional mirror therapy.

The study will be conducted over a 6-week period with stroke patients in the early subacute phase. Both groups will receive equivalent durations of upper limb training in addition to conventional physiotherapy.

This trial aims not only to compare motor outcomes but also to evaluate whether motor improvements translate into functional hand use and to explore differences in somatosensory gains between interventions. By addressing both visual and proprioceptive components of motor learning, this research may guide future clinical strategies for individualized stroke rehabilitation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

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 Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Büyükcekmece
      • Istanbul, Büyükcekmece, Turkey (Türkiye), 34500
        • Istanbul University- Cerrahpasa
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34500
        • Alkent 2000, 34500 Büyükçekmece/İstanbul

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:

  • Having a ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke diagnosis through MRI and/or CT
  • Volunteering to enter the study
  • First ever stroke or no sequeale (mRS 0)
  • Being in subacute/chronic phase of stroke (between 1st week to 1 year)
  • Having a adequate sitting balance or able to maintain upright sitting position for 30 minutes
  • Having a motor deficit in the hand (Brunnstrom hand motor recovery stages 1-4 )
  • Having a full range of motion in hand

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe Pain (VAS ≥ 8)
  • Having a neurological or orthopedic problem in hand
  • Severe spatial hemineglect (NIHSS 11th subscale> 1)
  • Spasticity (mAS ≥ 2)
  • Apraxia
  • Visual/auditory loss that affects treatment
  • Unstable Vital Signs

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Mirror Therapy Group
The group who receives conventional mirror therapy
Device: Therapy Mirror
Patients in the mirror therapy group will glance at the reflection of their non-affected arm and fall into the illusion that their non-affected limb is moving. This is supposed to assist patients regain motor deficits by reducing non-use paralysis.
Active Comparator: Hand Robot Group
The group who receives mirror mode of a soft robotic glove
Device: Hand Robot Mirror Mode
Mirror mode of the hand robot group will mimic the movement of the unaffected arm. The robot will provide proprioceptive and visual feedback and make patient believe that the affected arm is moving.
Other Names:
  • Syrebo C12 / SY-HRC12

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fugl Meyer Assesment
Time Frame: 30 minutes
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment scale and gold-standard measure of post-stroke motor recovery that quantifies upper limb motor function using a standardized ordinal scoring system assessing reflex activity, movement control, coordination, and joint function.
30 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Action Research Arm Test
Time Frame: 15 minutes
The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) is a performance-based assessment designed to evaluate upper limb function by measuring the ability to grasp, grip, pinch, and perform gross motor movements. It is particularly sensitive to changes in hand and arm function after stroke and is frequently used in both clinical and research settings to monitor motor recovery.
15 minutes
Wolf Motor Function Test
Time Frame: 30 minutes
The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is a widely used, time-based assessment that evaluates upper extremity motor ability through a series of functional and strength-related tasks in individuals with stroke. It measures both the time taken to complete 15 standardized activities and the quality of movement, providing objective data on motor recovery.
30 minutes
Box and Block Test
Time Frame: 5 minutes
The Box and Block Test is a standardized, performance-based measure of gross manual dexterity that quantifies upper extremity function by counting the number of blocks transferred within 60 seconds.
5 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Zeynep Lide Uz

Collaborators

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Investigators

  • Study Director: Ela Tarakcı, 1, Istanbul University- Cerrahapaşa

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

Helpful Links

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)

January 10, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 25, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

December 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 18, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 12, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Robot/Mirror in Stroke
  • 223S419 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)

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

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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