TERAPIA DO ESPELHO (TE) PARA MEMBROS SUPERIORES EM PACIENTES PÓS-ACIDENTE VASCULAR ENCEFÁLICO: REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Introduction: Stroke is a condition caused by changes in blood flow to the brain and can be of hemorrhagic, ischemic, or subarachnoid origin, with the ischemic type being the most prevalent and the most common. Additionally, it is considered the leading cause of death and disability in Brazil, and worldwide, it ranks as the second most prevalent neurological disease and similarly in terms of mortality. Moreover, it is the third leading cause of disability. Based on the activation of the Mirror Neuron System (MNS) and the corticospinal tract, Mirror Therapy (MT) accelerates the recovery of the hemiparetic limb and promotes cortical reorganization, leading to functional and motor gains. Method: A search of articles was conducted in the following databases: Scielo, Virtual Health Library (VHL), PubMed, and Google School, using the descriptors: Mirror Therapy, Rehabilitation, Stroke, and their English equivalents. The search focused on randomized controlled trials with control and intervention groups, published between 2014 and 2024. Results: Four relevant articles were selected for the research after excluding duplicates or those that did not meet the quality and inclusion criteria, with four articles being used for the systematic review. All articles scored 4 or higher on the PEDro scale. Conclusion: Despite the benefits of Mirror Therapy (MT), further research is still needed to confirm these findings, particularly regarding the best phase to start applying this therapy. However, MT is one of the most feasible low-cost resources with a scientific basis for motor improvement and sensory deficit recovery.