Introduction: Stroke is a disease of the central nervous system that can lead to various issues, including motor, cognitive, language and sensory impairments. Mirror therapy is often used as a therapeutic method to promote functional recovery of paralyzed upper limbs by encouraging the recovery of motor functions and movement on the affected side. Purpose: To review and analyze the findings on the effectiveness of mirror therapy in the rehabilitation of the upper limb after stroke. Method: A search of professional and scientific literature was conducted in the PubMed and PEDro databases. The review included studies published in English up to September 2021. Results: The literature review
included five articles published between 2016 and 2021, with PEDro scale scores ranging from 4 to 7. The studies involved a total of 178 stroke patients. All studies compared
mirror therapy with placebo mirror therapy or the same exercises without a mirror. Research results show improved motor function of the hand, greater independence and
better performance of daily living activities. However, one study showed poorer results at the end of the trial due to limited space for hand movement. Discussion and conclusion:
Mirror therapy, which is based on the visual illusion of movement of the healthy limb reflected to create the impression of movement in the affected limb, can stimulate neural pathways in the brain and thus improve motor recovery. Further research is needed as understanding how mirror therapy affects brain functions and how to optimize this connection for rehabilitation is crucial for to advancement in this research field.
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