Mirror Therapy for Recovery from Stroke

MIRROR therapy is a way to help your brain “see” the affected side of your body moving. You place a mirror next to your unaffected limb, so the mirror reflects its movements. It looks like the weaker or paralyzed limb is moving just fine to your brain, like tricking your brain or training your brain to send the correct messages to your affected arm.

This trick helps wake up the brain’s motor areas and encourages healing. Over time, this can lead to better mobility, less pain, and more control. MIRROR therapy taps into your brain’s natural ability to adapt, called neuroplasticity. By practicing movements in front of a mirror, you’re “showing” your brain what it wants to see, which helps repair damaged pathways.