Mirror therapy combined with contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation for the upper limb motor function after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

In this study, we investigated the effects of mirror therapy (MT) combined with contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) on upper limb motor function, activities of daily life, and corticospinal excitability in post-stroke patients. Sixty post-stroke patients were randomly divided into four groups: CCFES, MT, MT combined with CCFES, and control. All the patients underwent routine rehabilitation. Those in the MT, CCFES, MT combined with CCFES, and control groups received MT, CCFES, MT combined with CCFES, and routine rehabilitation alone, respectively. Upper limb motor function, activities of daily living, and corticospinal excitability were evaluated before and after a 3-week intervention period. MT combined with CCFES demonstrated a significantly greater therapeutic effect on motor function of the paretic wrist than CCFES, MT, or routine rehabilitation alone. However, there was no significant difference in the overall motor function of the affected upper limb, activities of daily life, or corticospinal excitability between the MT combined with CCFES group and the other three groups. MT combined with CCFES may be a potential adjuvant therapy to promote motor function in paretic wrist after stroke. The combined therapy of mirror therapy (MT) and contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) may be a potential adjuvant therapy to promote motor function in paretic wrists after stroke. MT combined with CCFES could be incorporated into rehabilitation programs for post-stroke patients with impaired upper limb motor function. Exploring the potential benefits of combining different rehabilitation therapies could inform the development of more effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]