Combined Mirror Therapy and Soft Robotic Glove for Hand Recovery After Stroke (MT-SRG)

May 8, 2026 updated by: Mohammed Hindi Jaryan, University of Baghdad

Effect of Combining Mirror Therapy With Soft Robotic Glove on Hand Function Recovery in Post-Stroke Hemiplegic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Post-stroke hemiplegia frequently results in impaired upper limb function, which significantly affects independence and quality of life. Various rehabilitation approaches have been developed to improve motor recovery, including mirror therapy and robotic-assisted training. Mirror therapy uses visual feedback to stimulate neural plasticity and enhance motor recovery, while soft robotic gloves assist repetitive hand movements and facilitate functional training.

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of combining mirror therapy with a soft robotic glove on hand function recovery in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Participants will be randomly assigned to different intervention groups receiving mirror therapy, soft robotic glove training, combined therapy, or conventional rehabilitation.

The primary outcome will assess improvement in upper limb motor function using validated clinical assessment tools. Secondary outcomes will evaluate functional hand performance and activities of daily living. The findings of this study may contribute to improving rehabilitation strategies for stroke survivors and provide evidence for integrating innovative rehabilitation technologies into clinical practice.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide and commonly results in upper limb motor impairment. Recovery of hand function is essential for improving independence in activities of daily living. However, rehabilitation of the affected upper limb remains a major challenge in stroke management.

Mirror therapy is a rehabilitation technique that provides visual feedback by reflecting movements of the unaffected limb in a mirror, creating the illusion that the affected limb is moving normally. This approach is believed to promote cortical reorganization and enhance motor recovery. In recent years, robotic-assisted rehabilitation devices, including soft robotic gloves, have been developed to provide repetitive, task-specific training and facilitate motor relearning.

Soft robotic gloves are wearable assistive devices designed to support hand movements and enable repetitive practice of grasping and releasing tasks. These devices provide controlled assistance during rehabilitation exercises and may enhance the intensity and effectiveness of therapy.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of combining mirror therapy with soft robotic glove training in improving hand function among patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to intervention groups receiving mirror therapy, soft robotic glove training, combined therapy, or conventional rehabilitation.

The intervention program will be delivered over a structured rehabilitation period, and clinical assessments will be conducted at baseline and after completion of the intervention. Outcome measures will focus on upper limb motor recovery, hand function performance, and functional independence.

The results of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of integrating mirror therapy with robotic-assisted rehabilitation approaches for improving upper limb recovery after stroke. This may support the development of more effective rehabilitation protocols for patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

104

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

  • Iraq
    • Babylon
      • Baghdad, Babylon, Iraq
        • Recruiting
        • Rehabilitation and Neurology Outpatient Unit
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Wafaa Hattab, PhD

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:

Adults aged 18-70 years with first-ever ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke confirmed by imaging (CT or MRI)

Moderate upper limb motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity [FMA-UE] score 20-50)

Ability to follow simple instructions (Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test, 6CIT)

Ability to sit independently for at least 30 minutes

Medically stable and cleared to participate in rehabilitation interventions

Willingness to provide informed consent and adhere to the study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

Severe upper limb spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale ≥ 3)

Cognitive or psychiatric disorders interfering with participation

Other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions affecting upper limb function (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, fractures)

Prior exposure to intensive Mirror Therapy or Soft Robotic Gloves

Visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses

Uncontrolled cardiovascular or other medical conditions that would prevent safe participation

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Conventional Rehabilitation
Participants receive conventional upper limb rehabilitation therapy according to standard clinical practice for stroke rehabilitation
Other: Conventional Rehabilitation
Standard rehabilitation therapy focused on improving upper limb function in individuals with stroke
Experimental: Mirror Therapy
Participants receive mirror therapy sessions designed to improve motor function of the affected upper limb following stroke.
Other: Mirror Therapy
A rehabilitation technique using a mirror to create a visual illusion of movement in the affected limb to improve motor recovery after stroke.
Experimental: Soft Robotic Glove Training
Participants perform upper limb training using a soft robotic glove device to assist hand movement and improve motor recovery after stroke.
Device: Soft Robotic Glove
A wearable soft robotic glove designed to assist hand movement and facilitate motor recovery in individuals with stroke
Experimental: Mirror Therapy plus Soft Robotic Glove
Participants receive a combined intervention consisting of mirror therapy and soft robotic glove training to enhance upper limb motor recovery after stroke.
Combination product: Mirror Therapy plus Soft Robotic Glove
Participants receive a combined intervention consisting of mirror therapy and soft robotic glove training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Upper Limb Motor Function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity, FMA-UE)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks during intervention, immediately post-intervention (6 weeks), and 3-month follow-up.
Assesses motor recovery of the affected upper limb following stroke, including voluntary movement, coordination, and reflex activity using a standardized stroke-specific motor scale. Scores range from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better motor recovery and motor performance.
Baseline, 4 weeks during intervention, immediately post-intervention (6 weeks), and 3-month follow-up.
Functional Use of Affected Limb (Functional Test of Upper Limb Hemiplegia - Hong Kong, FTHUE-HK)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks during intervention, immediately post-intervention (6 weeks), and 3-month follow-up
Evaluates functional use of the affected upper limb in individuals with hemiplegia through hierarchical task performance. Scores range from Level 1 (no active movement) to Level 7 (advanced functional hand use), with higher levels indicating greater functional recovery.
Baseline, 4 weeks during intervention, immediately post-intervention (6 weeks), and 3-month follow-up

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Activities of Daily Living (Katz Index of Independence in ADL)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up
Measures the participant's ability to independently perform six basic self-care activities including bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. Scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater independence in activities of daily living.
Baseline, 4 weeks, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up
Upper Limb Spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale, MAS)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up
Assesses muscle spasticity in the affected upper limb by grading resistance during passive soft-tissue stretching. Scores range from 0 to 4, where higher scores indicate increased muscle tone and greater spasticity.
Baseline, 4 weeks, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up
Cognitive Screening (Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test, 6CIT)
Time Frame: Baseline
A brief screening tool used to assess cognitive status prior to study participation, including orientation, memory, and attention. Scores range from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating greater cognitive impairment.
Baseline
Visual Acuity (Snellen Chart)
Time Frame: Baseline
Evaluates visual acuity to ensure participants can adequately perform mirror-based visual feedback during therapy. Visual acuity is measured using the standard Snellen fraction (e.g., 6/6 to 6/60), where better vision corresponds to higher visual acuity.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Baghdad

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Wafaa Hattab, PhD, University of Baghdad, College of Nursing

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)

April 8, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 17, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 17, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 8, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UOB-MT-SRG-RCT-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared publicly in order to protect the privacy and confidentiality of study participants. Only summarized and aggregated results will be reported in scientific publications and research reports.

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.

Clinical Trials on Stroke

Clinical Trials on Conventional Rehabilitation

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Nigeria

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe