Effect of 4 weeks of Task-Based Mirror Therapy Versus Movement-Based Mirror Therapy on Lower Limb Function and Balance in Individuals with Sub-acute Stroke: An Experimental Study.

The study will be conducted after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), and all participants will provide written informed consent prior to enrollment. This experimental study will recruit 42 individuals with sub-acute stroke who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups: Task-Based Mirror Therapy (TMT) group and Movement-Based Mirror Therapy (MMT) group.Outcome Measures: Primary outcome measure: Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) for motor function, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for balance and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test for functional mobility.

Procedure: All participants will undergo pre-assessment for demographic data, medical history, and baseline values of FMA-LE, BBS, and TUG.

TMT Group: Will perform functional, goal-directed lower limb tasks (ball rolling forward/backward and sideways, rocker board exercises, pushing a pillow in multiple directions, picking and releasing pegs, wiping the floor, and placing the foot on floor markers) in front of a mirror. Each task will be performed for 2 sets of 10 repetitions with short rest intervals, and the dosage will be progressively increased based on individual tolerance.

MMT Group: Will perform repetitive, isolated lower limb movements (ankle dorsiflexion–plantarflexion, knee flexion–extension, hip abduction–adduction) in front of a mirror. Each movement will be performed for 2 sets of 10 repetitions with short rest intervals, and dosage will be progressively increased as tolerated.

Both groups will receive their assigned mirror therapy intervention in addition to conventional physiotherapy, delivered three days per week. Each session will include 30–35 minutes of standard physiotherapy combined with the allocated mirror therapy, for a total intervention period of four weeks.

Post-assessment: At the end of the four-week intervention, FMA-LE, BBS, and TUG will be reassessed.

Data Analysis: Data will be analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize demographic and baseline characteristics. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests will be used for within-group comparisons, and independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests will be used for between-group comparisons, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.