Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Apr;26(4):497-9.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.26.497. Epub 2014 Apr 23.

The effect of mirror therapy integrating functional electrical stimulation on the gait of stroke patients

Sang-Goo Ji  1 , Hyun-Gyu Cha  1 , Myoung-Kwon Kim  2 , Chang-Ryeol Lee  3
Affiliations

The effect of mirror therapy integrating functional electrical stimulation on the gait of stroke patients

Sang-Goo Ji et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to examine whether mirror therapy in conjunction with FES in stroke patients can improve gait ability. [Subjects] This study was conducted with 30 subjects who were diagnosed with hemiparesis due to stroke. [Methods] Experimental group I contained 10 subjects who received mirror therapy in conjunction with functional electrical stimulation, experimental group II contained 10 subjects who received mirror therapy, and the control group contained 10 subjects who received a sham therapy. A gait analysis was performed using a three-dimensional motion capture system, which was a real-time tracking device that delivers data in an infrared mode via reflective markers using six cameras. [Results] The results showed a significant difference in gait velocity between groups after the experiment, and post hoc analysis revealed significant differences between experimental group I and the control group and between experimental group II and the control group, respectively. There were also significant differences in step length and stride length between the groups after the experiment, and post hoc analysis revealed significant differences between experimental group I and control group. [Conclusion] The present study showed that mirror therapy in conjunction with FES is more effective for improving gait ability than mirror therapy alone.

Keywords: Functional electrical stimulation; Gait analysis; Mirror therapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Garry MI, Loftus A, Summers JJ: Mirror, mirror on the wall: viewing a mirror reflection of unilateral hand movements facilitates ipsilateral M1 excitability. Exp Brain Res, 2005, 163: 118–122 - PubMed
    1. Rizzolatti G, Craighero L: The mirror-neuron system. Annu Rev Neurosci, 2004, 27: 169–192 - PubMed
    1. Yavuzer G, Selles R, Sezer N, et al. : Mirror therapy improves hand function in subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2008, 89: 393–398 - PubMed
    1. Stevens JA, Stoykov ME: Using motor imagery in the rehabilitation of hemiparesis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2003, 84: 1090–1092 - PubMed
    1. Rushton DN: Functional electrical stimulation and rehabilitation—an hypothesis. Med Eng Phys, 2003, 25: 75–78 - PubMed