Stroke survivors’ views on mirror therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Stroke survivors’ views on mirror therapy in upper limb rehabilitation.
IRAS ID
249063
Contact name
Alison Porter-Armstrong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 8 days
Research summary
Arm weakness is common after stroke, often leading to reduced independence in daily life. There is evidence to suggest mirror therapy may improve arm function following stroke. Using a mirror, the reflection of the unaffected arm presents the visual illusion of movement by the affected arm. However, there is a lack of high quality evidence for mirror therapy, and no indication which patient groups benefit most.\n\nIt is necessary to explore service users experiences of healthcare to promote client-centred practice. This can also provide a better understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of different treatments. By gaining service-user experiences, this will explore the acceptance of mirror therapy as an upper limb treatment. Where there is low acceptance, stroke survivors may not be motivated to engage in treatment. With belief in the visual illusion possibly contributing to the effectiveness of mirror therapy, its acceptance could contribute to treatment effectiveness. \n\nTo date, there has been little examination of patient views of mirror therapy during arm treatment. To summarise, this study aims to explore service user experiences of mirror therapy and potentially add to the delivery of mirror therapy in clinical practice and research.\n\n
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2032
Date of REC Opinion
21 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion