Mirror therapy for an adult with central post-stroke pain: a case report.
Davide Corbetta, Elisabetta Sarasso, Federica Agosta and 2 others
PMID 29492272WHAT IT FOUND
After two weeks of mirror therapy, one adult with central post-stroke pain reported lower hand pain at rest and during grip, with relief still present one year later.
This is a single case, not evidence that mirror therapy works.
Key findings
01After two weeks of mirror therapy, the patient's trained-hand pain decreased by 4.5 points at rest and 3.9 points during maximal grip on a 0 to 10 scale.
02One year later, hand pain remained lower than before treatment, and shoulder pain was further reduced after the patient continued mirror training at home.
03Hand strength and finger dexterity did not show relevant variations after treatment; the differences of 3.7 N and 2.5 seconds were similar to baseline repeatability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so it cannot show that mirror therapy works for other people with central post-stroke pain. The patient had recent balance training, a lower-limb mirror-feedback session, and later self-directed shoulder mirror training, so the contribution of upper-limb mirror therapy alone cannot be separated. She was asked not to change lifestyle or start medications, but co-interventions were only reported orally and may not have been fully captured. Pain was assessed mainly with a visual analogue scale, and the authors note that broader neuropathic pain measures were not used. Strength and dexterity were not reassessed at one-year follow-up. The patient may have been influenced by a positive approach to a new treatment.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that mirror therapy treats central post-stroke pain. One patient reported less pain after a two-week supervised mirror protocol, but she also had recent balance training, a lower-limb mirror-feedback session, and later self-directed shoulder mirror training, and it is a single-case report.