AbstractThis study was performed to evaluate the effects of Mirror therapy combined with
EMG-triggered Functional Electrical Stimulation on upper extremity function in
patient with Chronic Stroke. A total of 24 chronic stroke patients were divided
into 3 groups. Group I (n=8) was given with traditional physical therapy
(TPT), group II (n=7) was given with traditional physical therapy and
mirror therapy (MT), and group III (n=9) was given with traditional
physical therapy and mirror therapy in conjunction with EMG-triggered Functional
Electrical Stimulation (EMGFES-MT). Each group performed one hour a day 5 times
a week for 6 weeks.We obtained the following result between before and after treatments about
changes of elbow flexion muscle strength (EFMS), elbow extension muscle strength
(EEMS), wrist flexion muscle strength (WFMS), wrist extension muscle strength
(WEMS), elbow flexion range of motion (EFROM), elbow extension range of motion
(EEROM), wrist flexion range of motion (WFROM), wrist extension range of motion
(WEROM), grip strength (GS) and upper extremity function.Each group showed a significant difference in EFMS, EEMS, WFMS, WEMS, EFROM,
EEROM, WFROM, WEROM, GS and upper extremity function (p<0.05) EMFES-MT
group revealed significant differences in EEMS, WEROM, grip strength and upper
extremity function as compared to the other groups (p<0.05). No
difference was found in the change of spasticity among the 3 groups.Our results showed that EMFES-MT was more effective on elbow, WFMS, WEMS, AROM,
grip strength and upper extremity function in patients with chronic stroke. We
suggest that this study will be able to be used as an intervention data for
recovering upper extremity function in chronic stroke patients
Isometric and isokinetic muscle strength in the upper extremity can be reliably measured in persons with chronic stroke
