This feasibility study is the first step of a larger effects study exploring the use of an activity-based mirror therapy program for people who have had a stroke in the last 30 days and are in the hospital. The study aims to examine features of the study design as well as the preliminary effects of the mirror therapy program on motor recovery, balance, gait, and mobility.
In this study participants will complete 15 minutes of lower limb mirror therapy three days per week for two weeks, alongside their usual physiotherapy. The motor recovery, balance, gait, and mobility of participants will then be reassessed. Participants will also be invited to complete a short questionnaire and interview about their experience in the study.
Stroke physiotherapists that are involved in the study will also complete a questionnaire and interview to provide feedback on the study and it's design.
Adults aged 18 years or older
Diagnosis of hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke by head computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Medically stable to participate in physical rehabilitation as determined by the medical staff at QEUHSRU providing approval to begin physiotherapy
Between 72 hours and 30 days post stroke at the time of baseline assessment
Individuals with any type of lower limb amputation of either side of the body
Individuals who have been identified as having incapacity by their medical team, as aligned with the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
Non-English Speakers
Individuals who's care teams identified them as being distressed during their routine assessments/sessions
Single group
Mirror Therapy
Other interventionDuring mirror therapy, participants will sit in an arm chair with a mirror placed in their mid-sagittal plane so that their non-paretic lower limb is reflected and their paretic lower limb is hidden. They will be asked to complete activity-based exercises with their non-paretic limb whilst watching the reflection in the mirror and imagining the reflection is their paretic limb. The activity-based exercises consist of rocker board dorsi/plantarflexion, rocker board in/eversion, step ups, wiping floor (or ball rolling) in/external hip rotation, wiping floor ab/adduction, ball kicking, and picking up marbles with the toes. Participants will do these exercises for 15 minutes, three days per week for four weeks. Participants will also receive 45 to 60 minutes of usual personalized conventional physiotherapy such as neurodevelopmental facilitation, sensory motor re-education, active/active-assisted exercises, and balance/gait training, five days per week.
Participant Recruitment Rate
Average monthly recruitment rate (total number of people approached about the study ÷ the number of months recruitment was conducted)
Participant Enrolment Rate
Average monthly enrolment rate (number of patient participants that provided written consent ÷ the number of months recruitment was conducted)
Rate of Recruitment to Enrolment
Recruitment to enrolment success rate (number of patient participants enrolled ÷ number of patient participants approached)
Participant Retention Rate
Retention Rate (number of participants that completed the entire two-week intervention ÷ number of enrolled participants)
Fugl-Meyer Assessment - Lower Extremity (FMA-LE)
Assesses lower limb motor recovery. There is a maximum score of 34. A higher scores indicates better motor recovery.
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Assesses balance. It consists of 14 items on a five-point ordinal scale that ranges from 0 to 4. 0 represents the lowest level of function and 4 the highest. There is a maximum score of 56.
10-Meter-Walk-Test (10MWT)
Assesses gait. A 10 meter (m) walkway will have a 2 m acceleration and deceleration zone on each side. Thus the time (in seconds) taken to walk the central 6 meters will be measured, with speed calculated in m/s. This study will complete 1 trial at a comfortable speed
Modified Rivermead Mobility Index (MRMI)
Assesses mobility. The MRMI assesses 8 mobility activities on a six-point scale from 0 to 5, with 0 being unable and 5 independent. There is a maximum score of 40. This study will assess some of the activities concurrently with the BBS and 10MWT.
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This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
