StrokeNCT07139015
Comparing Mirror Therapy and CIMT for Hand and Arm Function in Post-Stroke Patients
A study testing CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY and MIRROR THERAPY in people with Stroke, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether Mirror Therapy (MT) combined with Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) improves hand and arm function after a stroke. The study will also compare this combination to CIMT alone. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke
- What is being tested?
- CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY and MIRROR THERAPY
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 8 Oct 2024to 2 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male and female patients
- Age 40 years and above
- Diagnosed patients confirmed by CT scan and MRI
- History of stroke not more than 6 months
- Brunnstrom grade 2 and above
Who cannot join
- Patients having history of musculoskeletal disorders
- History of shoulder injuries or adhesive capsulitis
- Patients having visual and auditory deficit will be excluded
- Patients who have sensory deficit will be excluded
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Evercare Hospital Lahore
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
Adnan Arshad, DPT, dradnaanarshad@gmail.com
Hamza Nafees, MS-NMPT
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Mirror Therapy and Constraint-induced Movement Therapy on Grip Strength, Hand Dexterity, and Upper Limb Motor Function in Post-stroke Patients.
The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether Mirror Therapy (MT) combined with Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) improves hand and arm function after a stroke. The study will also compare this combination to CIMT alone. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does combining MT with CIMT improve grip strength, hand dexterity, and upper limb function more than CIMT alone? Which therapy is more effective in helping stroke survivors regain use of their arm and hand?
Read more
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to receive either CIMT alone or CIMT combined with MT Attend therapy sessions 5 days a week for 6 weeks, each lasting 60-90 minutes Undergo tests before and after treatment to measure grip strength, dexterity, and motor function using tools like the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Box and Block Test, and Hand-Held Dynamometer
Read the detailed description
This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate and compare the effects of Mirror Therapy (MT) and Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) on grip strength, hand dexterity, and upper limb motor function in post-stroke patients. Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, particularly affecting upper limb motor function, which severely impacts the ability to perform daily activities. This study seeks to provide insights into which approach or combination of therapies is more effective in improving upper limb functionality in post-stroke patients, thereby enhancing their quality of life and rehabilitation outcomes.
In this study, a randomized clinical trial (RCT) methodology will be utilized. 32 participants male and female patients aged 40 years and above who have a confirmed diagnosis of stroke, verified through CT scan and MRI imaging will be included. Eligible participants will have experienced a stroke within the past six months to ensure relevance to the intervention and recovery phase. Additionally, only those with a Brunnstrom grade of 2 or higher, indicating some degree of voluntary motor function, will be included by using non-probability convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups: one receiving only CIMT and the other combining MT with CIMT. Baseline measurements will be taken for all participants to assess grip strength, hand dexterity, and upper limb motor function, utilizing validated tools like the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Motor Activity Log (MAL), Box and Block Test (BBT), and Hand-Held Dynamometer. Both groups will undergo therapy sessions five days a week for six weeks, with daily sessions lasting 60-90 minutes. The data analysis will be performed using SPSS version 25. Data normality will be checked via the Shapiro-Wilk test. To evaluate within-group changes between pre- and post-treatment measurements, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test will be used, as it is appropriate for non-parametric data. The Mann-Whitney U test, a non-parametric test for comparing two independent groups.
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Being tested
- CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY, MIRROR THERAPY
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPYOther
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) involves restricting the unaffected arm to promote use of the affected limb through task-specific exercises. It is delivered 5 days a week for 6 weeks, with sessions lasting 60-90 minutes, focusing on improving strength, dexterity, and function.
MIRROR THERAPYOther
Mirror Therapy (MT) uses a mirror to reflect movements of the unaffected limb, creating the illusion of movement in the affected limb.
Participants will do 60-90 minute sessions, 5 days a week for 6 weeks.
Exercises include hand opening/closing, finger movements, and simple object tasks to improve motor function and coordination through visual feedback.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy | Experimental | Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) will involve placing a mitt or sling on the unaffected upper limb to promote use of the affected arm. Participants will attend sessions 5 days a week for 6 weeks, each lasting 60-90 minutes.
Exercises include:
Squeezing therapy putty (3 sets of 10-15 reps) Isometric grip holds (3 sets of 5-10 seconds) Finger-tapping (3 sets of 10 reps) Buttoning and zipping tasks (3 sets of 5-10 reps) The intervention targets grip strength, endurance, dexterity, and functional motor recovery through moderate-intensity, task-specific training. Receives: Other: CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY |
| MIRROR THERAPY | Experimental | The experimental group will receive Mirror Therapy for 15-20 minutes per session, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. A mirror will be placed to reflect movements of the unaffected limb, creating the illusion that the affected limb is moving. Participants will perform simulated grasping, finger tapping, pegboard tasks, and wrist movements to engage mirror neurons and promote motor recovery. Receives: Other: MIRROR THERAPY |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Grip strength
Change in grip strength of the affected hand, measured using a Hand-Held Dynamometer.
Measured: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Hand dexterity
Change in fine motor skills assessed using the Box and Block Test (BBT).
Measured: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Upper limb motor function
Improvement in overall motor function of the affected upper limb, assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Motor Activity Log (MAL).
Measured: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Aug 2025
- Study start8 Oct 2024
- Primary completion1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion2 Jan 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- HAMZA NAFEES, MS-NMPT, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07139015
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/24/0283
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 24 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Mirror Therapy and Constraint-induced Movement Therapy on Grip Strength, Hand Dexterity, and Upper Limb Motor Function in Post-stroke Patients.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07139015
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/24/0283
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 8 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 2 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether Mirror Therapy (MT) combined with Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) improves hand and arm function after a stroke. The study will also compare this combination to CIMT alone. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does combining MT with CIMT improve grip strength, hand dexterity, and upper limb function more than CIMT alone? Which therapy is more effective in helping stroke survivors regain use of their arm and hand?
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to receive either CIMT alone or CIMT combined with MT Attend therapy sessions 5 days a week for 6 weeks, each lasting 60-90 minutes Undergo tests before and after treatment to measure grip strength, dexterity, and motor function using tools like the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Box and Block Test, and Hand-Held Dynamometer
Detailed description
This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate and compare the effects of Mirror Therapy (MT) and Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) on grip strength, hand dexterity, and upper limb motor function in post-stroke patients. Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, particularly affecting upper limb motor function, which severely impacts the ability to perform daily activities. This study seeks to provide insights into which approach or combination of therapies is more effective in improving upper limb functionality in post-stroke patients, thereby enhancing their quality of life and rehabilitation outcomes.
In this study, a randomized clinical trial (RCT) methodology will be utilized. 32 participants male and female patients aged 40 years and above who have a confirmed diagnosis of stroke, verified through CT scan and MRI imaging will be included. Eligible participants will have experienced a stroke within the past six months to ensure relevance to the intervention and recovery phase. Additionally, only those with a Brunnstrom grade of 2 or higher, indicating some degree of voluntary motor function, will be included by using non-probability convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups: one receiving only CIMT and the other combining MT with CIMT. Baseline measurements will be taken for all participants to assess grip strength, hand dexterity, and upper limb motor function, utilizing validated tools like the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Motor Activity Log (MAL), Box and Block Test (BBT), and Hand-Held Dynamometer. Both groups will undergo therapy sessions five days a week for six weeks, with daily sessions lasting 60-90 minutes. The data analysis will be performed using SPSS version 25. Data normality will be checked via the Shapiro-Wilk test. To evaluate within-group changes between pre- and post-treatment measurements, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test will be used, as it is appropriate for non-parametric data. The Mann-Whitney U test, a non-parametric test for comparing two independent groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy | Experimental | Other: CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPYConstraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) will involve placing a mitt or sling on the unaffected upper limb to promote use of the affected arm. Participants will attend sessions 5 days a week for 6 weeks, each lasting 60-90 minutes. Exercises include: Squeezing therapy putty (3 sets of 10-15 reps) Isometric grip holds (3 sets of 5-10 seconds) Finger-tapping (3 sets of 10 reps) Buttoning and zipping tasks (3 sets of 5-10 reps) The intervention targets grip strength, endurance, dexterity, and functional motor recovery through moderate-intensity, task-specific training. |
| MIRROR THERAPY | Experimental | Other: MIRROR THERAPYThe experimental group will receive Mirror Therapy for 15-20 minutes per session, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. A mirror will be placed to reflect movements of the unaffected limb, creating the illusion that the affected limb is moving. Participants will perform simulated grasping, finger tapping, pegboard tasks, and wrist movements to engage mirror neurons and promote motor recovery. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Male and female patients
- Age 40 years and above
- Diagnosed patients confirmed by CT scan and MRI
- History of stroke not more than 6 months
- Brunnstrom grade 2 and above
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients having history of musculoskeletal disorders
- History of shoulder injuries or adhesive capsulitis
- Patients having visual and auditory deficit will be excluded
- Patients who have sensory deficit will be excluded
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPYConstraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) involves restricting the unaffected arm to promote use of the affected limb through task-specific exercises. It is delivered 5 days a week for 6 weeks, with sessions lasting 60-90 minutes, focusing on improving strength, dexterity, and function. | Other | Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy |
| MIRROR THERAPYMirror Therapy (MT) uses a mirror to reflect movements of the unaffected limb, creating the illusion of movement in the affected limb. Participants will do 60-90 minute sessions, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Exercises include hand opening/closing, finger movements, and simple object tasks to improve motor function and coordination through visual feedback. | Other | MIRROR THERAPY |
Primary outcome
Grip strength
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Change in grip strength of the affected hand, measured using a Hand-Held Dynamometer.
Hand dexterity
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Change in fine motor skills assessed using the Box and Block Test (BBT).
Upper limb motor function
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Improvement in overall motor function of the affected upper limb, assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Motor Activity Log (MAL).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Aug 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
HAMZA NAFEES, MS-NMPT principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY and MIRROR THERAPY in people with Stroke, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Asrar Yousaf, M.Phil (+92 300 4099505, Asrar.yousaf@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Grip strength (time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Aug 2025.