Doing It with Mirrors: A Case Study of a Novel Approach to Neurorehabilitation

Arm amputees can experience the perception of movement of a phantom limb while looking at a mirror reflection of the moving, intact arm superimposed on the perceived phantom. Such use of a mirror to provide illusory visual feedback of move ment can be useful in rehabilitation of hemiparetic patients...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurorehabilitation and neural repair 2000-01, Vol.14 (1), p.73-76
Main Authors: Sathian, K., Greenspan, Arlene I., Wolf, Steven L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arm - physiopathology
Feedback - physiology
Functional Laterality - physiology
Humans
Illusions - physiology
Male
Middle Aged
Movement - physiology
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Paresis - etiology
Paresis - physiopathology
Paresis - rehabilitation
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Recovery of Function - physiology
Rehabilitation - methods
Stroke - physiopathology
Stroke Rehabilitation
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Arm amputees can experience the perception of movement of a phantom limb while looking at a mirror reflection of the moving, intact arm superimposed on the perceived phantom. Such use of a mirror to provide illusory visual feedback of move ment can be useful in rehabilitation of hemiparetic patients. In this case report, we de scribe the successful application of "mirror therapy" to the post-stroke rehabilitation of a patient with poor functional use of an upper extremity, due mainly to so matosensory deficits. Mirror therapy facilitated employment of a motor copy strategy (bimanual movements) and later progression to "forced use" of the affected arm. The end result was increased functional use of the affected upper limb.
ISSN:1545-9683
1552-6844
DOI:10.1177/154596830001400109