Mirror therapy applied to functional recovery of post-stroke patients: An overview.

Authors

  • Adriano Coelho-Silva Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil.
  • Sergio Machado Laboratory of Physical Activity Neuroscience, Neurodiversity Institute, Queimados-RJ, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8946-8467
  • Douglas Farias Fonseca Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8395-7434
  • William Riciere Pedon Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1197-683X
  • Weder Alves Silva Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7677-4710
  • Cezimar Borges Department of Physical Education, Goiatuba University, Goiatuba, Goiás, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7524-9906
  • Ronaldo Ferreira Moura Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9250-8455
  • Pedro Augusto Inacio Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9354-1460
  • Adolfo Cameia Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil.
  • Ygor Martins-Lima Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil.
  • Marcelo Magalhães Sales Graduate Program in Environment and Society (PPGAS) of the State University of Goiás (UEG); Southwest Campus - Headquarters Quirinópolis. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3814-6964
  • Ivanéria Mendonça Martins Graduate Program in Environment and Society (PPGAS) of the State University of Goiás (UEG); Southwest Campus - Headquarters Quirinópolis.
  • Else Saliés Fonseca Graduate Program in Health Sciences at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Brazil
  • Eduardo da Matta Mello Portugal Graduate Program in Physical Education at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7268-7847
  • Alberto Souza Sá Filho Graduate Program at Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9434-4231

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37951/2674-9181.2025v7i1.8850

Keywords:

Therapy, Stroke, Visual Feedback, Rehabilitation

Abstract

Mirror therapy emerged from the use of visual feedback to induce kinesthetic sensations and has since been explored as a simple, low-cost, and non-invasive strategy for neurorehabilitation. Although the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying its effects remain incompletely understood, they are likely related to interactions between visual feedback, somatosensory processing, motor imagery, mirror neuron activity, and cortical sensorimotor plasticity. In post-stroke hemiparesis, mirror therapy may help restore the disrupted relationship between intended movement and visual perception, potentially reducing learned non-use and facilitating motor relearning. This commentary provides an overview of the theoretical basis and clinical relevance of mirror therapy for functional recovery after stroke, highlighting its potential as an adjunctive rehabilitation strategy while recognizing the need for clearer patient selection criteria and more rigorous mechanistic investigation.

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Published

2026-05-18

How to Cite

Coelho-Silva, A., Machado, S., Fonseca, D. F., Pedon, W. R., Silva, W. A., Borges, C., … Sá Filho, A. S. (2026). Mirror therapy applied to functional recovery of post-stroke patients: An overview. International Journal of Movement Science and Rehabilitation, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.37951/2674-9181.2025v7i1.8850

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Artigos