Background: Hemiplegia is one of the most common and undesirable consequences of stroke. The disability in daily life is of longer duration for paralysis of the upper extremity than the lower extremity. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of mirror therapy on upper extremity functions among hemiplegic patients. Methods: Quantitative pre-test post-test control group design was used. Hundred patients visiting outpatient department of Dr. R.M.L. Hospital, New Delhi were randomly assigned to either of two groups: experimental group and control group. Subjects in experimental group received mirror therapy along with physiotherapy and subjects in control group received physiotherapy only. Demographic related data was collected and upper extremity functions of hemiplegic patients were assessed by using the Manual Function Test (M.F.T.) tool. Data analysis was done by using STATA 11.1 with level of the significance < 0.05. Results: The mean upper extremity function score was significantly (p < 0.001) higher among subjects of experimental group (20.35 ± 4.90) after intervention
of mirror therapy with physiotherapy in comparison to subjects of control group (10.65 ± 4.56) who received only physiotherapy. Significant improvement in upper extremity function was found among subjects with brain injury and subjects with higher education level. Conclusion: It is concluded that mirror therapy is relatively cheap intervention with notable improvement in upper extremity functions among hemiplegic patients. An improved upper extremity function ultimately creates a positive effect on early recovery of hemiplegic patients’ without any
complications associated with hemiplegia.
Keywords: Mirror therapy; Hemplegia; Upper extremity function; Stroke.