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Mirror Therapy in Children With Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy
Sponsor: Marmara University
Summary
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that frequently impairs upper extremity motor control and hand function, resulting in limitations in daily activities. Mirror therapy is a low-cost, easy-to-implement intervention that promotes motor learning by stimulating cortical reorganization and neuroplasticity. This randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of mirror therapy on upper extremity function, selective motor control, hand function, hand grip strength, and manual dexterity in children with hemiparetic CP. Twenty-six children with hemiparetic CP will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving mirror therapy combined with conventional physiotherapy or a control group receiving sham mirror therapy combined with the same conventional physiotherapy program. The intervention will be administered over an 8-week period. Baseline assessments will include the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and the Modified Ashworth Scale. Outcome measures collected before and after the intervention will include the Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES), ABILHAND-Kids questionnaire, hand grip strength measured with the Jamar dynamometer, and manual dexterity assessed using the Nine-Hole Peg Test. The study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of mirror therapy beyond conventional physiotherapy by using a sham-controlled design and to contribute to the development of standardized, evidence-based rehabilitation protocols for improving upper extremity function in children with hemiparetic CP.
Official title: Effects of Mirror Therapy on Upper Extremity Function and Motor Control in Children With Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
6 Years - 12 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
26
Start Date
2026-08-01
Completion Date
2026-10-25
Last Updated
2026-07-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Mirror Therapy
Mirror therapy will be administered for approximately 20 minutes following conventional physiotherapy sessions, twice weekly for 8 weeks. During the intervention, participants will perform bilateral, symmetrical upper extremity movements while observing the mirror reflection of the unaffected upper limb to create the visual illusion of movement of the affected limb.
Sham Mirror Therapy
Sham mirror therapy will be administered for approximately 20 minutes following conventional physiotherapy sessions, twice weekly for 8 weeks. Participants will perform the same bilateral upper extremity exercises while the mirror is positioned to eliminate visual mirror feedback.
Conventional Physiotherapy
Individualized neurodevelopmental treatment-based physiotherapy including stretching, upper extremity strengthening exercises, mat activities, standing and gait training, and fine motor skill activities. The program will be delivered for approximately 40 minutes per session, twice weekly for 8 weeks.