Mirror Therapy With Cutaneous Electrical Sensory Stimulation on Lower Limb Motor Functions in Stroke

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of concurrent mirror therapy (MT) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in augmenting the efficacy of the lower limb task-oriented training in people with stroke. It is hypothesize that MT combined with TENS would be superior to sham-mirror therapy with TENS, or MT with placebo-TENS, or control training only in improving lower limb motor functions and walking ability in people with stroke when combined with the lower limb task-oriented training.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. have had a single stroke with ischemic brain injury or intracerebral haemorrhage diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography within the previous 6 to 36 months; 2. have at least 5 degrees of active ankle dorsiflexion in the antigravity position; 3. are able to walk 10 m independently with or without a walking aid; 4. are able to score 6 or higher out of 10 on the abbreviated mental test; 5. have no unilateral neglect, hemianopia or apraxia; 6. have no skin allergy (e.g. redness or itchiness to the electrical stimulation pads) to electrical stimulation or electrodes; and 7. are able to follow instructions and give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. have any additional medical, cardiovascular or orthopaedic condition that would hinder proper treatment or assessment; 2. have visual deficits that may hinder them from benefiting from the mirror visual feedback; 3. have receptive dysphasia; or 4. are involved in drug studies or other clinical trials.