Comparing unilateral and bilateral mirror therapy for stroke recovery

The Effects of Unilateral and Bilateral Mirror Therapy on Upper Extremity Function of Stroke At Acute Stage: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Not applicable Interventional National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch · NCT06103045

This study is testing whether using one-sided or two-sided mirror therapy can help people who had a stroke improve their arm function better than regular therapy.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment30 (estimated)
Ages20 Years to 85 Years
SexAll
SponsorNational Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch Academic / other
Locations1 site (Hsinchu)
Trial IDNCT06103045 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to compare the effects of unilateral and bilateral mirror therapy on the upper extremity function of patients who have experienced a stroke within the acute stage. Patients with unilateral stroke onset within one month will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: unilateral mirror therapy, bilateral mirror therapy, or conventional occupational therapy. Each patient will undergo 20 sessions of their assigned intervention over four weeks, with assessments conducted before and after the intervention period to evaluate changes in motor function. The hypothesis is that different types of mirror therapy will yield varying effects on recovery outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals who have experienced a unilateral stroke within the last month and meet specific cognitive and motor function criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with unstable vital signs, other neurological diseases, or significant sensory impairments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance rehabilitation strategies for stroke patients, potentially improving their upper extremity function more effectively.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific combination of unilateral and bilateral mirror therapy is being tested here, similar approaches have shown promise in enhancing recovery in stroke rehabilitation.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Unilateral stroke onset within 1 month
* The score of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is more than 24
* The score of Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE) is between 18 to 56
* The score of Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) is less than 3
* Willing to receive 3-5 sessions of the intervention per week, total 20 sessions consecutively
* Willing to sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unstable vital sign or complicating with other symptoms of neurological disease
* Auditory or visual function impairment
* Complicating with perceptual impairment (e.g., apraxia, neglect, or visual agnosia)
* Receiving botulinum toxin injection within 3 months
* Complicating with Wernicke's or Broca's aphasia

Where this trial is running

Hsinchu

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Stroke, AcuteStrokeunilateral mirror therapybilateral mirror therapyacute stagemotor function of upper extremity
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.