Rehabilitation of somatic sensation and related deficit of motor control by Mirror Box Therapy: a case report

Somatosensory disorders are often present after cerebral stroke. These deficits are associated with patients' disability. Therefore, their rehabilitation takes an importance in recovery program. However, the treatment of sensation remains poorly considered during neurorehabilitation and evidence for active sensory training is limited. Mirror Box Therapy is a simple training used to treat upper extremity motor deficits and pain also in patients with stroke. However, the effects of Mirror Box Therapy on somatosensory impairments in post-stroke patients are not deeply investigated and often exclusively motor exercises are provided during therapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Mirror Box Therapy sensory training on somatosensory deficits in a stroke patient presenting upper limb impairment. The patient underwent to four weeks of training, five days a week. Before, during and after the Mirror Box Therapy treatment, the patient was assessed by Rivermead Assessment of Somatosensory Performance. Before and after training also upper limb motor function and performance in activities of daily living were assessed. After training patient showed an improvement in somatosensory performance. The gain was maintained at follow-up. This case report shows the effects of Mirror Box Therapy sensory training on the upper extremity for the improvement of sensation and movement in a patient with a thalamo-capsular hemorrhagic stroke during the subacute phase.

Automated summary

Somatosensory disorders are common after cerebral stroke and often neglected in neurorehabilitation. This study investigated the effects of Mirror Box Therapy sensory training on upper limb impairments in stroke patients and found significant improvements in somatosensory performance.