EFFECTIVENESS OF MIRROR THERAPY IN PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Keywords:
mirror therapy, cerebral palsy, pediatric neurological rehabilitation, manual dexterity, visual feedbackAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0440
Abstract
Mirror therapy is a visual feedback strategy used to support motor recovery through observation of the reflected movement of the less affected limb. This systematic review aimed to analyze the effectiveness of mirror therapy in the pediatric neurological rehabilitation of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PEDro, and Web of Science, complemented by Google Scholar, including studies published between 2019 and 2025. Of 100 records initially identified, 10 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in a narrative synthesis. The findings showed a generally favorable trend, particularly for manual dexterity, upper-limb function, selective motor control, and some aspects of balance, whereas effects on strength were variable. In direct comparisons, interventions such as modified constraint-induced movement therapy and virtual reality produced superior results for certain outcomes. Mirror therapy may therefore be considered a promising complementary strategy in pediatric neurorehabilitation; however, methodological heterogeneity limits conclusions regarding its superiority over other rehabilitation approaches.
Keywords: mirror therapy, cerebral palsy, pediatric neurological rehabilitation, manual dexterity, visual feedback.
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