Comparison of Task Specific Exercises and Mirror Therapy to Improve Upper Limb Function in Subacute Stroke Patients

Abstract

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability. Approximately 70% to 80% of people sustaining a stroke have upper limb (UL) impairment. Improving use of the affected UL is important however, because difficulty in using this UL in daily tasks has been associated with reduced quality of life. Additional effects of combining mirror therapy (MT) with Task Specific Exercises (TSE) to improve UL function post-stroke are unknown. Hence, primary objective of this study was to find out the effectiveness of combined TSE and MT interventions in sub-acute stroke patients to improve UL function and secondary objective was to compare the effectiveness of combined TSE and MT interventions with TSE alone and MT alone. Thirty-seven stroke patients were divided into 3 groups; Group A received TSE, Group B received MT and Group C received TSE as well as MT. Outcome measures were Action Research Arm Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Voluntary Control Grading. All 3 groups showed statistically significant improvement on outcome measures but Group C improved more than the other 2 groups. Conclusion: TSE and MT interventions should be combined altogether in the treatment of sub-acute stroke patients to improve UL function.