# A review of research progress of mirror therapy in peripheral nerve injury

**Authors:** Chengqi Duan, Hongxia Gan, Xiujian Zhuo, Yanping Xiao, Xiaobo Chen

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1740020 · Frontiers in Neurology · 2026-03-09

## TL;DR

Mirror therapy is a simple and effective rehabilitation technique for peripheral nerve injuries that can be used at home and combined with other treatments.

## Contribution

The study expands the application scope of mirror therapy and provides clinical evidence for its effectiveness in peripheral nerve injury recovery.

## Key findings

- Mirror therapy improves motor function in patients with peripheral nerve injuries.
- Mirror therapy is a non-invasive, low-cost rehabilitation option suitable for home use.
- Combining mirror therapy with conventional treatments enhances nerve recovery and motor function.

## Abstract

Mirror therapy, as a novel rehabilitation approach, has been widely applied in the treatment of various diseases, including post-stroke limb dysfunction, unilateral neglect, peripheral facial paralysis, complex regional pain syndrome, and childhood cerebral palsy.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of mirror therapy in treating peripheral nerve injuries, expand the scope of diseases to which mirror therapy can be applied, and provide a novel treatment strategy for peripheral nerve injuries.

This study conducted a comprehensive search and analysis of relevant clinical research on mirror therapy for peripheral nerve injuries, providing theoretical and clinical basis for the application of mirror therapy in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of seven clinical studies, it can be concluded that mirror therapy (MT) has a positive effect on improving motor function.

Mirror therapy is characterized by its simplicity, economy and non-invasiveness. It is an effective rehabilitation technique for treating peripheral nerve injuries and is suitable for low-cost, long-term home-based rehabilitation. It can be combined with conventional therapies to jointly promote the recovery of motor functions and accelerate the plastic regeneration of nerves.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** complex regional pain syndrome (MONDO:0019369)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** complex regional pain syndrome (MESH:D020918), cerebral palsy (MESH:D002547), unilateral neglect (MESH:D058069), post-stroke limb dysfunction (MESH:D004834), facial paralysis (MESH:D005158), peripheral nerve injuries (MESH:D059348)

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

44 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13006303/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13006303