Synergic effect of the combination of mirror therapy and electrical stimulation for lower extremity motor function recovery in stroke survivors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To explore the synergic effect of the combination of mirror therapy and electrical stimulation on lower limb motor function recovery in stroke survivors.

Materials and Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, Wan Fang, CBM were searched from inception to December 2020. Randomized controlled trials that compared the combined therapy with another single therapy were included. A pre-determined data collection form was used to extract data. Two authors independently extracted data and used the Cochrane Handbook criteria to assess the quality of included studies.

Results

Six studies, with a total of 437 patients were included. There was an overall positive effect on lower limb motor function recovery, according to Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Lower Extremity [all: WMD in fixed effects model: 5.63, 95% CI 4.86, 6.39] and Brunnstrom stage [all: WMD in fixed effects model: 0.49, 95% CI 0.32, 0.66].

Conclusions

The results indicate that the combination of mirror therapy and electrical stimulation for lower extremity motor function recovery in stroke survivors may have a positive effect.

KEYWORDS:

• Meta-analysis
• stroke
• rehabilitation
• lower extremity
• mirror therapy
• electrical stimulation

Acknowledgments

Hao Wang is the principal researcher of this study and the main author of this work. Xiaoya Fang contributed to data analysis, collation, and the evaluation of literature quality. Jun Yao reviewed the whole manuscript for scientific content. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this review