Effects of a mirror-induced visual illusion on a reaching task in stroke patients: implications for mirror therapy training.

Background: Although most mirror therapy studies have shown improved motor performance in stroke patients, the optimal mirror training protocol still remains unclear.

Objective: To study the relative contribution of a mirror in training a reaching task and of unilateral and bimanual training with a mirror.

Methods: A total of 93 stroke patients at least 6 months poststroke were instructed to perform a reaching task as fast and as fluently as possible.

Quantifying nonuse in chronic stroke patients: a study into paretic, nonparetic, and bimanual upper-limb use in daily life.

Objective: To quantify uni- and bimanual upper-limb use in patients with chronic stroke in daily life compared with healthy controls.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation center.

Motor recovery and cortical reorganization after mirror therapy in chronic stroke patients: a phase II randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate for any clinical effects of home-based mirror therapy and subsequent cortical reorganization in patients with chronic stroke with moderate upper extremity paresis.

Methods: A total of 40 chronic stroke patients (mean time post .onset, 3.

The neuronal correlates of mirror therapy: an fMRI study on mirror induced visual illusions in patients with stroke.

Aim: To investigate the neuronal basis for the effects of mirror therapy in patients with stroke.

Methods: 22 patients with stroke participated in this study. The authors used functional MRI to investigate neuronal activation patterns in two experiments.

Evidence of a logarithmic relationship between motor capacity and actual performance in daily life of the paretic arm following stroke.

Objective: To examine the associations between actual performance in daily life and function, capacity and self-perceived performance of the paretic upper limb following stroke.

Population: Seventeen individuals with stroke.

Outcome Measures: Correlation coefficients between actual performance (measured with the Stroke-Upper Limb Activity Monitor), function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment), capacity (Action Research Arm test) and self-perceived performance (ABILHAND questionnaire).