1Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Pune, India.
Address for correspondence: Abhilasha Gundesha Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics and rehabilitation, Pune, Maharashtra, India Email abhilasha.gundesha@gmail.com
In the recent literature, there are a number of new techniques being evaluated for their efficacy in the treatment of upper extremity dysfunction post stroke. Recovery of upper extremity is crucial for independence in activities of daily living. Mirror Therapy is an innovative technique which may help regain function post stroke.
For the present literature review, we focussed on Mirror Therapy for treatment of upper extremity post stroke. We analyzed publications of the last 5 years (2005 to 2010) from PUBMED, using the key words “stroke”, “upper extremity” and “mirror therapy”. Only Randomised Controlled Trials, Literature Reviews and Metaanalysis published in English language were selected for the review.
Out of a total of 24 articles accessed, 15 articles pertaining to Mirror Therapy for upper extremity function post stroke were analyzed.
The present literature review shows that mirror therapy may prove to be a valuable tool for the treatment of upper extremity dysfunction post stroke. It also shows that mirror neurons may play an important role in observation based learning. However, the underlying mechanisms for the use of mirror therapy need further evaluation.
- Mirror therapy, Stroke, Upper extremity function
