Mirror therapy for unilateral neglect after stroke: a systematic review.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nThe effect of mirror therapy for unilateral neglect after stroke currently remains uncertain.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis systematic review investigated the effect of mirror therapy on neglect and daily living activities in patients with unilateral neglect after stroke when compared with no treatment, sham mirror therapy, or routinely applied therapies only. We performed a systematic electronic search for PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane CENTRAL), CNKI, and WANGFANG DATA to identify relevant randomized control trials (RCTs).\n\n\nRESULTS\nWe included 5 RCTs in the data synthesis. Mirror therapy (combined or not with other treatments) was more effective in improving neglect as compared with sham mirror therapy or no-treatment (combined or not with the other therapies) (SMD= 1.62, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.21, p< 0.00001). Mirror therapy (combined or not with other therapies) was effective in improving daily living activities as compared with sham mirror therapy or no-treatment (combined or not with the other therapies) (SMD= 2.09, 95% CI: 0.63 to 3.56, p=0.005).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nOur results showed that mirror therapy effectively improves neglect and daily living activities in patients with unilateral neglect after stroke. Future trials with high methodological quality and larger sample sizes are needed to determine the immediate and long-term effect of appropriate mirror therapy protocol for unilateral neglect.