Unilateral Strength Training and Mirror Therapy for Enhancing Lower Limb Motor Function Post Stroke: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Phase: NA
Conditions: Stroke
Sponsor: Institute of Technology, Sligo

Cover Page 
Study Protocol 
Study Title: Unilateral Strength Training and Mirror Therapy for Patients with Chronic 
Stroke. A Pilot Randomised Controlled 
Trial Document creation date: July 12th 2015
NCT number [not yet assigned]. 
Identifiers: [NCT ID not yet assigned] 

Study Protocol for Unilateral Strength Training and Mirror Therapy for Patients with 
Chronic Stroke. A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (Daniel Simpson, IT Sligo) 
 
The intervention comprised of a home-based isometric strength training programme 
performed under supervision by two therapists. The participant’s less-affected (LA) lower 
limb was strapped into an ankle brace securing the ankle joint at a 100° angle (10° 
plantarflexion). Subjects were seated on a chair with back support, with a knee joint angle at 
120°. Following a warm-up consisting of unilateral submaximal isometric contractions, the 
main part of the training programme consisted of 4 sets of 5 maximal effort isometric ankle 
dorsiflexion contractions, performed with the LA limb only, held for 5 seconds with 5 
seconds rest between repetitions and 3 minutes rest between sets. The same protocol was 
followed 3 times per week for 4-weeks (12 sessions).  
 
The Unilateral Strength Training only (Cross-education) group exercised without a mirror; 
the Experimental Group (Mirror Therapy) group observed the reflection of the LA lower limb 
in the mirror while training. Prompts to focus on the reflection in the mirror were given to 
the Mirror Strength Training group only; other verbal cues were identical for all participants 
of both groups.