ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study lies in finding out of the effects of mirror therapy on the upper extremity function and activities of daily living (ADL) of hemiplegic patients who have suffered a chronic stroke. Methods : This study was carried out with 30 patients who were diagnosed as stroke victims. For 6 weeks, the subjects was divided into an experimental who had mirror therapy (MT) intervention, and a control group who had sham therapy (ST) intervention from November 2009 to March 2010. The study procedures were Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA); Functional Independence Measure (FIM) before and after intervention, according to an upper extremity function evaluation; and an ADL performance ability evaluation. Results : 1) The affected upper extremity function and ADL performance ability of the chronic stroke patients of both groups, under MT and under ST before and after intervention, showed statistically significant differences (p<.05), and the group under MT showed a statistically significant level increase in affected upper extremity function and ADL performance ability compared with the group under ST (p<.05). 2) Also, the affected upper extremity function showed a statistically significant correlation with ADL performance ability, which is related with motor function (p<.05, r=.826). Conclusion : MT increases affected upper extremity function and ADL performance ability in comparison with ST, and affected upper extremity function affects motor function-related ADL performance ability. Accordingly, MT would be an applicable treatment to improve the functional recovery and ADL performance ability of chronic stroke patients, and follow-up studies should be carried out focusing on and various functional programs rather than focusing on simple task fulfillment.