Impact of virtual reality and mirror therapy on balance, muscle strength and quality of life in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a double blinded randomized comparative study

Background and Purpose This study aimed to compare between the impact of virtual reality and mirror therapy on balance, muscle strength and quality of life in unilateral cerebral palsy children. Materials and methods This study involved 36 children of both sexes with unilateral cerebral palsy. Their ages ranged between 6 to 10 years and their motor function ability fell between levels I and II on Growth Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS). Their grade of spasticity on Modified Ashworth scale was from 1+ to 2. They were allocated to one of two study groups (A and B). A designated physical rehabilitation program was given to both groups. furthermore, group A received a wii fit virtual reality-based program while, group B received mirror therapy. Children in both groups received treatment for three consecutive months, three days per week, 60 minutes per day. Balance, muscle strength and quality of life were assessed using biodex balance system, lafayette hand-held dynamometer and pediatric quality of life inventory cerebral palsy Module respectively for each child in two groups pre and post treatment program. Results Children in the two groups demonstrated a noticeable improvement in the post-treatment average scores of all evaluated outcomes (p 0.001) when compared to pre-treatment average scores. By comparing posttreatment values of both groups, group A showed a noticeably greater improvement than group B (p 0.05). Conclusions Both virtual reality and mirror therapy may be recommended to enhance balance, muscle strength and quality of life in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Virtual reality is more beneficial in enhancing balance, muscular strength and quality of life among those children.