Author(s): Syeda Zeba Khakashan and Manjunatha H

Abstract:
Background Approximately 80% of stroke survivors suffers motor impairment in upper or lower limbs shortly after the onset of stroke. Two-thirds of patients with lower limb impairment are unable to walk independently immediately after their stroke and only half of patients with lower limb impairment are able to walk independently after rehabilitation. Although various rehabilitation approaches have been studied in past, majority of them are labor-intensive due to which providing extensive care to all patients is challenging. Mirror visual feedback therapy (MVFT), also known as Mirror therapy (MT), may be an appropriate alternative treatment approach for lower limb rehabilitation among stroke survivors because of its low cost and simplicity. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of MVFT on lower limb functional mobility during gait rehabilitation; and to compare the effect of MVFT and conventional therapy in improvement of hemiplegic gait in chronic stroke subjects. Method 40 stroke subjects were randomly assigned to two different groups where Group A received conventional treatment and Group B received MVFT. The therapist guided treatment was given for a period of 12 weeks and outcome measures Dynamic gait index (DGI) and Berg balance scale (BBS) were assessed before the intervention at day 1 and after the treatment at the end of 12 weeks. Result Both groups showed improvement in the outcome measures after 12 weeks, however there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion MVFT is a simple, safe and inexpensive method without requiring any assistance that can be applied in addition to conventional rehabilitation program to improve the gait in hemiplegic stroke subjects.

Pages: 224-228  |  460 Views  151 Downloads

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