Review

Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

Volume: 7 Number: 2 August 27, 2026
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Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review was to use existing research to extract a recommended protocol for mirror therapy during CVA rehabilitation. Articles included were published within the last 5 years, in English, had accessible full text versions of the articles, and involved an adult population of individuals 18 years and older. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used by two certified occupational therapists to identify and screen studies to be included in the review. Individual searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and ProQuest databases on December 18, 2024, through January 5, 2025. The following search terms were used by both authors: “mirror therapy,” “intervention,” “occupational therapy,” “stroke OR CVA,” and “adults.” A total of 655 studies were identified, and after sorting for relevance/inclusion criteria, 23 were included. A total of 853 participants were in the included studies, mostly men with a mean age of 55.3. It was found that a minimum protocol of 72 minutes per week for 4 weeks with 15 sessions was an effective use of mirror therapy during CVA rehabilitation. The Fugl-Meyer was the most frequently used outcome measure used by the included studies. This review found moderate evidence to support the establishment of a minimum mirror therapy protocol to be utilized in CVA rehabilitation. However, mirror therapy is most effective when combined with other interventions such as cognitive therapeutic exercise, BoNT-A injections, electric stimulation, task-based mirror therapy, and video-augmented therapy.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Gannon University

Ethical Statement

We expose that the manuscript represents the results of original work submitted solely to your journal and will not be submitted for publication elsewhere until a decision is made regarding its acceptability. APA ethical standards were followed during the study. All authors acknowledge ethical responsibility for the content of the manuscript and will accept the consequences of any ethical violation. This research is not part of a larger study.

References

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  5. Borrowicz, W., Ptaszkowski, K., Murawska-Cialowicz, E., & Rosinczuk, J. (2022). Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and mirror therapy methods are comparable methods of rehabilitation after a first-ever ischemic stroke: A randomized study. Sustainability, 14(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215246
  6. Borrowicz, W., Ptaszkowski, K., Ptaszkowski, L., Rosinczuk, J., Murawaska-Cialowicz, E. (2023). Association between serum Vitamin D levels and physical outcomes of patients who underwent rehabilitation following ischemic stroke. International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research, 29. https://doi.org./10.12659/MSM.940115
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Rehabilitation

Journal Section

Review

Publication Date

August 27, 2026

Submission Date

January 26, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 2

APA
Kane, T., & Carsone, B. (2026). Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices, 7(2), 119-172. https://doi.org/10.58770/joinihp.1871709
AMA
1.Kane T, Carsone B. Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices. 2026;7(2):119-172. doi:10.58770/joinihp.1871709
Chicago
Kane, Terrell, and Blair Carsone. 2026. “Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices 7 (2): 119-72. https://doi.org/10.58770/joinihp.1871709.
EndNote
Kane T, Carsone B (August 1, 2026) Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices 7 2 119–172.
IEEE
[1]T. Kane and B. Carsone, “Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review”, Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 119–172, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.58770/joinihp.1871709.
ISNAD
Kane, Terrell - Carsone, Blair. “Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices 7/2 (August 1, 2026): 119-172. https://doi.org/10.58770/joinihp.1871709.
JAMA
1.Kane T, Carsone B. Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices. 2026;7:119–172.
MLA
Kane, Terrell, and Blair Carsone. “Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices, vol. 7, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 119-72, doi:10.58770/joinihp.1871709.
Vancouver
1.Terrell Kane, Blair Carsone. Recommended Mirror Therapy Protocol Based on Supportive Existing Research in CVA Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review. Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices. 2026 Aug. 1;7(2):119-72. doi:10.58770/joinihp.1871709