Effect of mirror therapy on brain re-organization, functional motor skills and quality of life in spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Authors : Duygu Korkem Yorulmaz, Mintaze Kerem Günel, Arzu Ceylan Has Silemek, Hatice Kader Karlı Oguz
Pages : 165-175
Doi:10.15437/jetr.1823853
View : 130 | Download : 194
Publication Date : 2025-12-30
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Purpose: Spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy is a complex disability with sensory-motor problems characterized by functional movement and posture disorders and negatively effects daily living activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mirror therapy for upper extremity and hand functions on brain re-organization, functional motor development, daily living activity level, and quality of life in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Methods: This self-control study employed a sample of nine children aged from 4 to 18. The children were evaluated before and after eight weeks of routine physiotherapy and were included in mirror therapy sessions of 30 minutes each for three days a week by the same physiotherapist. The evaluation measured activation intensity, upper extremity activation intensity, upper extremity skill levels, goal achievement states, functional independent states, brain re-organization states, and quality of life levels. Results: No statistically significant difference was detected regarding the evaluation parameters before and after the first eightweek follow-up period (p>0.05). However, a statistically significant improvement was found in upper extremity skill states, functional independence levels, brain re-organization states, and quality of life levels in the second 8-week study period in which mirror therapy was added to physiotherapy (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study contributes to the limited literature on the determination of treatment effectiveness by employing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the mirror therapy on children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Keywords : Serebral palsi, Motor beceriler, Fonksiyonel durum, Yaşam kalitesi

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL