360° immersive virtual reality-based mirror therapy for upper extremity function and satisfaction among stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.
Sungbae Jo, Hoon Jang, Hyunjin Kim and 1 others
PMID 38483333WHAT IT FOUND
With conventional physical therapy, 360° immersive mirror therapy improved upper limb movement more than traditional mirror therapy.
Traditional mirror therapy did not improve the upper limb motor score more than conventional physical therapy alone. Patients liked the 360° version more.
Key findings
01The primary upper limb motor score, FMA-UE with a maximum of 66 points, improved more in the 360° immersive mirror therapy group than in the traditional mirror therapy and control groups.
02Traditional mirror therapy plus conventional physical therapy did not improve the primary score more than conventional physical therapy alone.
03Patients receiving 360° immersive mirror therapy gave higher ratings than traditional mirror therapy patients on questionnaire items 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10, and more often described it as enjoyable, free to move and more immersive.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The trial lasted four weeks and had no follow-up, so it does not show whether the 360° mirror therapy benefit lasts. All patients received conventional physical therapy, so the result applies to adding mirror therapy to conventional physical therapy, not replacing it. The sample was small and came from one hospital, and it included only patients within six months of first stroke who could follow instructions, had MMSE-K score of 21 or more, and had mild to moderate upper limb impairment. The paper reports assessor blinding, but not patient or therapist blinding. The study did not measure brain activation, concentration time, or compare 360° mirror therapy with VR mirror therapy using computer graphics.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. The work was supported by the Academic Research Fund of Dr. Myung Ki (MIKE) Hong in 2023.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that 360° mirror therapy works on its own or that the benefit lasts. It was given together with conventional physical therapy, and the trial had no follow-up.