ABSTRACT

Objective : Ipsilateral mirror movements (MMs) are involuntary movements of one limb during voluntary unilateral movements of the opposite limb. MM decreases in the course of motor development, but may reappear in adults suffering from brain damage after a stroke. The purpose of this study is to measure MMand compare the relationship between ipsilateral MM and the motor function of the affected upper extremity in stroke patients.Methods : Fifteen stroke patients with MM and fifteen stroke patients without MM were selected for this study. Two dynamometers were used during a squeezing task in order to measure the intended movements from the active hand as well as MM from the opposite hand. The upper extremity's motor function was measured using Fugl-Meyer Assesment (FMA), Purdue Pegboard Test (Purdue), and grip strength.Results : There was a significant difference in the upper extremity's motor function according to FMA, Purdue, and grip strength, depending on the presence of MM. The motor deficit of patients with MM was significantly greater than that of patients without MM.Conclusion : The findings show that stroke patients with MM have a significant motor deficit. The observation of ipsilateral hand MMs with greater motor deficit may suggest that these MMs represent a clinical sign of the restorative processes after a stroke. Therefore, the evaluation of MM can be useful for the assessment and treatment of stroke patients. Further studies are needed to attempt temporal assessments and develop a treatment intervention of MM after a stroke