Effect of Mirror Therapy on Unilateral Neglect for Patients After Stroke

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: The Effects of Mirror Therapy on Patients With Unilateral Neglect After Stroke
• Interventions: Behavioral: Covered mirror; Behavioral: Mirror therapy; Behavioral: Sham mirror

• Registration Number: NCT03854487
• Lead Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Brief Summary

This is a single-blinded randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of mirror therapy (MT), with reference to sham mirror (a glass wall) and control (a covered mirror), in reducing unilateral neglect for patients with stroke in 2 centres.

Detailed Description

Twenty-one subacute inpatients with left unilateral neglect after right-hemispheric stroke, recruited from 2 hospitals - Hong Kong and Guangzhou, in 1 and a half years, were randomly assigned to three groups; mirror therapy, sham therapy (in the form of a transparent glass wall), and control (covered mirror). The treatment programme for all groups consisted of 12 sessions (4 per week for 3 weeks) movement practice for the hemiplegic arm involved 5 table-top tasks graded according to the severity of patients' arm impairments. Blinded assessments were administered at baseline, 3-week postintervention, and 3-week follow-up upon completion of training.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2017-09-30
• Study Completion: 2018-06-30
• Status Verified: 2019-02
• Study First Submitted: 2019-02-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-02-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-02-24
• Study First Posted: 2019-02-26
• Last Update Posted: 2019-02-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 21

Inclusion Criteria

• ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, confirmed by medical diagnoses compatible with a unilateral right lesion involvement (i.e. left hemiplegic), exhibited left visual field inattention or unilateral neglect by obtaining a total score of star cancellation subtest in the conventional battery of the Behavioural Inattention Test ≤ 51 (out of 54);
• stroke with onset of neurological condition ≤ 6 months previously;
• have normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity better than 20/60 (6/18) in the better eye;
• with hemiplegic upper extremity functional levels 3-7 as rated by Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity and is able to move against gravity;
• ability to understand and follow simple verbal instructions, with Mini-mental State Examination ≥ 21;
• ability to participate in a therapy session lasting at least 30 minutes;
• consent to participant in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• prior neurological or psychiatric disorders;
• severe spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale >3) over paretic arm;
• history of recent Botox injection or acupuncture to the paretic arm within the past three months;
• participation in another clinical study elsewhere apart from the study site during recruitment

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Covered mirror	Covered mirror	-
Mirror therapy	Mirror therapy	-
Sham mirror	Sham mirror	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Unilateral neglect	Change of baseline to 3-week and to follow-up at 6-week	Behavioural Inattention Test
Allocentric and egocentric neglect	Change of baseline to 3-week and to follow-up at 6-week	Gap Detection Test
Functional performance related to unilateral neglect	Change of baseline to 3-week and to follow-up at 6-week	Catherine Bergego Scale

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Upper limb functions	Change of baseline to 3-week and to follow-up at 6-week	Fugl-Meyer assessment