STROKE-MIRROR THERAPY, MOTOR IMAGERY & GMI

SUMMARY

MIRROR THERAPY
1. Mirror therapy is a form of visual imagery in which a mirror is used to convey visual stimuli to the brain through observation of one's unaffected body part as it carries out a set of movements preventing learned non-use, retraining the brain.

2. The mirror is placed in patient's mid-saggital plane, reflecting movements of the non-paretic side as if it was the affected side, without pain.

3. Mirror therapy is effective for improving UL function, ADL & pain, at least as an adjunct to normal rehab.

MOTOR IMAGERY
4. Motor imagery is a mental process during which an individual rehearses or simulates a given action before it is actually performed.

5. Stored motor plans for executing movements can be accessed and reinforced during mental practice.

6. There is strong evidence that mental practice improves UL function & phantom pain when compared to standard care.

GRADED MOTOR IMAGERY (GMI)
7. Components: left-right discrimination, explicit motor imagery, mirror therapy.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].