There are several treatment methods to take after a stroke, but mirror therapy is one of the unique methods that greatly helps patients enhance their mobility in the hands and arms, sometimes also in the legs. The best thing about mirror therapy for individuals affected by stroke is even patients with the worst mobility condition can access this therapy. Before understanding how mirror therapy benefits stroke patients, it’s crucial to know the role of mirror neurons and the phenomenon of neuroplasticity.

Further, let’s have a close look at how mirror therapy assists stroke patients in enhancing their function, the finest ways to practice it, and promote recovery.

What is mirror therapy?

Mirror therapy is one of the therapeutic interventions mainly developed to get rid of phantom limb pain, which happens when a patient is going through pain in their amputated limb. In this method, a tabletop mirror will be used to get a reflection of your hand and arm. During the therapy, a mirror will be placed in the center of the body, which aims to hide the affected side and only show the non-affected side, so only the unaffected side will appear in the reflection.

Then, patients will do exercise using the normal, unaffected arm and hand when seeing their reflection in the mirror. Simply, when practicing movements using your non-affected limb by seeing its mirror image, which seems like you are moving your affected limb, this will ‘trick’ your brain into thinking that you are using or moving your affected limb.

While amputees, patients need to undergo several therapy sessions to alleviate phantom pain by assisting the brain to recognize and especially make them feel the sensations of those amputated limbs. Simply, the mirror therapy application extends, and the same effects were also noticed in people with pain or sensation issues after a stroke. Even, several studies have highlighted that mirror therapy is highly effective in enhancing movement in the affected limbs of stroke patients.

What happens in the brain during mirror therapy?

During mirror therapy, the brain is tricked into perceiving movement in the affected limb by watching its reflection in the mirror. This activates the mirror neuron system, which stimulates motor learning and imitation. Simply, the human brain will process the mirrored movement as if the affected limb is moving, stimulating the neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural pathways. This assists in reactivating dormant motor circuits, enhancing movement and coordination. Further, mirror therapy for stroke patients alleviates phantom limb pain and sensory deficits by improving brain-body communication, making it a powerful tool in stroke rehabilitation and neurological recovery.

What’s the importance of neuroplasticity for stroke recovery?

You may wonder how this mirror therapy helps individuals, that is due to mirror neurons. These nerve cells are activated by moving your body or just by seeing a movement occur. Mirror therapy for stroke patients offers visual feedback, which is crucial to assisting mirror neurons by simply watching the movement. In the end, your brain will get the feedback necessary to spark the rewiring process known as neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is nothing more than a brain’s ability to heal post-neurological injury like a stroke. It is mostly activated with high repetition of therapeutic exercises, or massed practice. Simply, neuroplasticity will strengthen the existing neural connections and develop new ones.

Typically, post-stroke, several neural pathways will be damaged or destroyed. Based on the brain area affected by stroke, function impairment may occur. Luckily, neuroplasticity helps healthy parts of the brain to regain the lost functions. For instance, the post-stroke brain area that is responsible for sending signals to the hand gets affected, and neuroplasticity takes action and allows the nearby areas of the brain to handle the hand-related functions.

Mirror therapy for stroke patients remains the best way to activate neuroplasticity, as it keeps on activating the mirror neurons involved in affected movements. For instance, when continuously practicing particular movements like hand therapy exercises, mirror therapy can assist the brain in rewiring itself and regulating the pathways that control hand-related function. So, mirror therapy for stroke patients can assist in activating neuroplasticity and promote overall recovery.

What role does mirror therapy play in improving mobility post-stroke?

Typically, rehabilitation clinics will use mirror therapy to assist patients pursue recovery, notably post-stroke. Even mirror therapy for stroke patients may look like a simulation, but it offers numerous benefits. Further, let’s see the advantages of getting physiotherapy treatment in Coimbatore and mirror therapy.

Arm, hand, and one-side paralysis can be improved, even studies have highlighted that the most common application for mirror therapy post-stroke is to enhance upper extremity function.
Leg mobility will be increased, and there is a pervasive thought that mirror therapy will only help the upper extremities, but the truth is it can also assist in improving leg function, but the only thing is a large mirror is required.
Mirror therapies help in reducing post-stroke pain. Even a few studies have suggested that mirror therapy also helps in improving post-stroke pain.
With the help of mirror therapy, stroke patients will find it easier to perform their daily activities. Typically, post-stroke, several individuals will struggle a lot to get back to their normal activities. Few studies have shown that mirror therapy can enhance an individual’s ability to perform self-care.
Hemineglect condition can be improved. Hemineglect is nothing but a condition that causes loss of attention or sensation in one side of the body. Simply, mirror therapy assists in improving visuospatial neglect, or hemineglect in individuals affected by stroke.
The effectiveness of mirror therapy also helps in improving sensation deficits. Typically, motor impairments in stroke patients are the main target of mirror therapy, but it can also treat sensational issues, like learning to differentiate between hot and cold.
Often, mirror therapy is considered one of the low-risk treatments because it is a completely safe and affordable therapeutic intervention, and it involves only a tabletop mirror and mild exercise.

Further, another main benefit of mirror therapy is that it can be practiced with your therapist in a clinic, or it can be performed at your home.

What’s the procedure of mirror therapy post-stroke?

Post-stroke, consider practicing mirror therapy with the help of a therapist. Further, let’s dive into the steps of mirror therapy:

Keep a tabletop mirror on the affected side of your body, with the non-affected arm resting on the table next to the mirror, make sure that it is completely in view in the reflection. Also, keep your affected side of the body or hand out of your sight.
Take a few minutes to look at the reflection and get accustomed to the optical illusion.
You can consider a mirror as a window, instead of a reflection. This will trick your brain by making you think that you are looking at your affected side.
Slowly start practicing some moderate hand therapy exercises using that normal unaffected hand. This includes using your thumb to touch the remaining fingertips, trying to make a fist, and then slowly opening your hands, or turning your palm up and down.
Aim to do these mirror therapy stroke exercises at least for 10 minutes, and gradually try to increase this timing up to half-hour sessions. Throughout the therapy make sure to look into the mirror.

Try different strategies and repeatedly do this to feel the complete effectiveness of mirror therapy. Doing particular hand exercises continuously will assist in activating neuroplasticity. Simply, how often you practice this mirror therapy exercise will greatly reflect in the outcomes, notably there are more chances for restoring hand and arm function, all you need to do is reach out to the best doctor and get their suggestions before starting any exercises or therapy post-stroke.

How long does mirror therapy take to work in stroke patients?

As we mentioned above, the effectiveness of mirror therapy in stroke recovery varies from person to person, also visible differences can be witnessed within four to six weeks of continuous practice. This effectiveness of mirror therapy works by triggering the brain’s neuroplasticity, and its ability to rewire and form new connections by creating the illusion of movement in the affected limb through a mirror reflection of the healthy limb.

Most stroke patients will practice mirror therapy at least for 30–60 minutes every day, based on their condition and rehabilitation plan. Early-stage stroke patients may get quick recovery, notably in regaining movement and reducing pain, also patients with severe impairment may take a longer time to recover.

One can feel the complete effectiveness of mirror therapy by regular practice and patience. Several stroke survivors report improved motor function, reduced stiffness, and enhanced coordination over time. To get the complete effectiveness of mirror therapy, consider combining mirror therapy with physical therapy and other rehabilitation techniques under professional guidance.

Are there any alternate ways to increase my stroke recovery?

Apart from mirror therapy, there are a few methods you can try for stroke recovery. The key lies in consistency, patience, and a combination of different techniques to stimulate the brain and body.

Physical therapy and exercise:

Regular movement is crucial for regaining mobility and strength. Activities such as walking, stretching, and strength training assist in improving coordination, and balance. Task-specific exercises like grasping objects or utensils reinforce motor skills.

Occupational therapy:

This method concentrates on regaining independence in day-to-day activities like dressing, eating, and writing. Simply, adaptive tools and techniques can make daily tasks easier.

Speech and cognitive therapy:

Individuals with speech and memory issues should consider getting speech therapy and cognitive therapy exercises such as puzzles, reading, and memory games to assist in improving communication and brain function.

Acupuncture and massage therapy:

Acupuncture helps improve nerve function and reduce post-stroke pain, while massage therapy assists in enhancing circulation and relieving muscle stiffness.

Aquatic therapy:

Water-based exercises offer low-impact resistance, enhancing strength, flexibility, and coordination without disturbing the joints.

Brain stimulation methods:

Techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) assist in stimulating brain activity and support neural recovery.

A healthy diet and hydration:

Diets rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and lean protein promote brain health and recovery. Staying hydrated greatly helps in improving circulation and cognitive function.

Mindfulness and stress management:

Practices such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises assist in reducing stress and improve focus, supporting mental recovery.

Combining these methods with mirror therapy will enhance stroke recovery, resulting in better physical and cognitive outcomes. But before starting any therapy, consider discussing with the best physiotherapist in Coimbatore to avoid a few complications.

Final thoughts:

In conclusion, we can say that mirror therapy remains one of the best rehabilitation methods for stroke survivors, notably for patients with hand or arm paralysis. This method just tricks your brain by making you think that you are moving the affected side of your body, even though it is just a reflection of your unaffected side. Also, you can perform this therapy on your own and initially get therapist support to make yourself comfortable. Later, try to practice as much as you can at home. Simply, consistency is the key to activating neuroplasticity and enhancing stroke recovery.