Mirror therapy in children with hemiplegia: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Neuroscience
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Mirror therapy is an established rehabilitation technique for adult hemiparesis post-stroke.
• Hemiplegia in children presents unique challenges requiring adapted therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of mirror therapy in children with hemiplegia.
• To assess the impact of mirror therapy on upper limb strength and function in pediatric participants.

Main Methods:

• A pilot crossover study involving ten children (aged 6-14) with hemiplegia.
• Participants underwent 3 weeks of daily bimanual training, alternating between sessions with and without a mirror.
• Assessments included maximal grasp/pinch strength and upper limb function (Shriner's Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation) at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• Mirror therapy significantly improved grasp strength (+20.4%) and upper limb dynamic position (+4.6%).
• Training without a mirror showed a significant improvement in pinch strength (+21.9%).
• Grasp strength testing behind the mirror showed a 15% performance improvement.

Conclusions:

• Mirror therapy is a feasible intervention for children with hemiplegia.
• The findings suggest potential benefits of mirror therapy for enhancing paretic arm strength and dynamic function in pediatric hemiplegia.