Authors: (including presenting author): :
Lo WC(1), Ng KW(1), Chan PYK (1),Leung WYF (1), Wong WYW (2), Leung CS (2)
Affiliation: :
(1) Department of Occupational Therapy, Caritas Medical Centre (2) Department of Medical and Geriatrics, Caritas Medical Centre
Keyword 1: :
Mirror Therapy
Keyword 2: :
Upper Limb Function
Introduction: :
Mirror therapy (MT) has been integrated into our daily rehabilitation practices within the Occupational Therapy Department of Caritas Medical Centre. However, there is insufficient local review on the efficacy of MT as an adjunct.
Objectives: :
The objective is to study the effectiveness of MT as an adjunctive treatment to conventional rehabilitation in improving upper limb function and functional outcomes of patients.
Methodology: :
This retrospective cohort study involved 22 stroke patients in a male rehabilitation ward of Caritas Medical Centre between July 2024 and February 2026. Patients are divided into two groups: those who received conventional rehabilitation alone (control group) and those who received conventional rehabilitation supplemented with MT (study group). Upper limb functioning was assessed using the Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), the Hong Kong Version of the Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (FTHUE-HK) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were used to examine its impact on activities of daily living. Changes in FMA-UE, FTHUE-HK, MMT, mRS and MBI scores are examined for both groups. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test is used to analyze the changes between pre and post treatment within each group.
Result & Outcome: :
In terms of upper limb function, both the study and control groups showed improvement, with the study group demonstrating a more significant enhancement. Significant differences were observed in shoulder, elbow, and wrist MMT scores pre- and post-treatment in the study group (all p< 0.001). For FTHUE-HK, improvement was significant in the study group (p=0.007) but not in the control group. Although both groups showed significant changes in FMA-UE total scores, the study group achieved greater improvement, with between-group comparison confirming a significant advantage (p=0.018). The average change in FMA-UE score in the study group (16.07 ± 10.79) exceeded the proposed minimal clinically important difference of 13, indicating meaningful motor recovery. Functional outcomes also improved in both groups, with decreased disability and increased independence. The study group achieved a larger increase in MBI scores (22.36 ± 13.11 vs. 18.38 ± 11.56). In NIHSS, the study group showed a greater reduction (3.29 ± 1.86 vs. 1.50 ± 1.41), demonstrating a significant advantage (p=0.032). These findings highlight the added value of MT in promoting motor recovery and functional independence beyond conventional rehabilitation. This study revealed that MT, as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation, enhances upper limb motor recovery and functional outcomes in stroke patients. These findings support the continued integration of MT into routine rehabilitation practice to maximize therapeutic benefit and promote independence in daily living.
