Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular and Neurosurgery

Objectives: To summarize the best evidence of the effectiveness of mirror neuron applications for improving motor function, self-care activities, spasticity, pain, visuospatial neglect, sensation, and quality of life in the stroke and multiple sclerosis patients. Methods: Intensive search was done in electronic databases: PubMed, cochrane library, and PEDro, and reference lists. This search was done to include RCTs that compare mirror neuron applications with conventional physical or occupational therapy for patients after stroke or multiple sclerosis. Then, the methodological quality of each included trial was assessed, and the data was extracted. Finally, the results were analyzed by pooling the data of change scores between pre- and post-intervention through calculation of the overall standardized mean differences with 95% confidence interval. Results: Forty-four studies were included. All of them were about stroke, and no study about multiple sclerosis met the inclusion criteria. Of all the studies, four interventions based on mirror neurons were studied (mirror therapy, mental practice, action observation therapy and virtual reality reflection therapy). Firstly, mirror therapy may have a significant effect on motor function of the upper extremity, and it may improve visuospatial neglect as well

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