Mirror Therapy and Augmented Reality in Stroke Rehabilitation

Each participant will practice two different MT protocols: UMT and BMT. During UMT, the affected hand is static, whereas during BMT, the affected hand moves in an attempt to duplicate the unaffected hand as best as possible. The MT activities include gross motor movements (i.e., shoulder flexion, elbow flexion/extension, forearm pronation/supination, and wrist flexion/extension and circumduction), fine motor movements (i.e., opposition, grasp, and release), and object manipulation (i.e., reaching out to grasp a cup, flipping coins).

The training program with different levels of difficulty provides goal-directed exercises designed to be adjustable in order to match the patient's ability to minimize compensatory movements. The goal-directed exercise includes balance training (i.e., weight shifting, standing on one leg, etc.), activities of daily living training (i.e., reaching to grasp functionally relevant objects), and cognitive enhancement (i.e., memory training). By using the AR system, participants can observe the real performance of motions and interaction between the body and the virtual environment.

Participants will perform 90 minutes of therapist-mediated conventional therapy. The treatment protocols will be formulated by using occupational therapy techniques, such as neurodevelopmental techniques and functional task training. Specifically, the affected arm exercise or gross motor training, muscle strengthening of the affected arm, fine motor or dexterity training, and functional tasks of daily life or compensatory techniques will be used to alleviate functional deficits. In addition, the therapist will work with the participant to select functionally relevant tasks, such as picking up items from a box, lifting soft drink bottles, hanging clothes, and so on.