Effects of Motor Learning After Upper Limb Peripheral Nerve Injury
Effects of Motor Learning After Upper Limb Peripheral Nerve Injury
The outcome of peripheral nerve injury is related to age, level of injury, the injured nerve,
 the severity of injury, and the timing and the type of surgery interventions. In addition,
 high-level peripheral nerve injury would not full recovery, and the prognosis is determined
 by the nerve regeneration.

 Conventional physical therapy includes electrical stimulation for denervated muscles, and
 soft tissue massage, joint range of motion exercises to maintain the flexibility of the
 affected joint, muscle or connected tissues. However, the nerve regeneration takes several
 months in high-level median, ulnar or radial nerve injury. Prolonged median or ulnar nerves
 injury may interfere intrinsic muscular function, and radial nerve injury causes drop hand.
 Earlier nerve regeneration or motor training is essential for the patients to return to
 normal life and increase their quality of life
The outcome of peripheral nerve injury is related to age, level of injury, the injured nerve,
 the severity of injury, and the timing and the type of surgery interventions. In addition,
 high-level peripheral nerve injury would not full recovery, and the prognosis is determined
 by the nerve regeneration.

 Conventional physical therapy includes electrical stimulation for denervated muscles, and
 soft tissue massage, joint range of motion exercises to maintain the flexibility of the
 affected joint, muscle or connected tissues. However, the nerve regeneration takes several
 months in high-level median, ulnar or radial nerve injury. Prolonged median or ulnar nerves
 injury may interfere intrinsic muscular function, and radial nerve injury causes drop hand.
 Earlier nerve regeneration or motor training is essential for the patients to return to
 normal life and increase their quality of life. This research aims to explore the effects of
 mirror therapy for peripheral nerve injury. We will enroll 60 patients who suffer from
 median, ulnar or radial nerve injury at the level of elbow or proximal forearm. The subjects
 will be randomized into the mirror-therapy group or the control group. Each group will
 receive conventional physical therapy (i.e., electrical stimulation, joint range of motion
 exercise, muscle strengthening training, sensory reeducation training). The mirror-therapy
 group would be supplemented by motor learning by mirror therapy. The measurements include
 joint range of motion, pain status, sensibility, grip strength, pinch strength, hand function
 test and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Demographic information will
 be collected and analyzed by the independent t-tests. The outcome variables taken during the
 three and six months after the interventions would be included. One-way ANOVA are used to
 compare the difference between measurements. This study may offer an evidence based results
 to explore the effects of mirror therapy for peripheral nerve regeneration and motor
 learning.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Willing to sign the inform consent

 -  Sufficiently communicate in the Chinese language

 -  Be able to follow instructions

 -  Newly median, ulnar, or radial nerve repair at forearm level in recent 3 weeks

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant or breast-feeding woman

 -  Central nervous disease

 -  A history of nerve entrapment syndrome in recent 1 year

 -  Patients with a history of latent neuropathy, such as diabetes, dialysis, and tumor

 -  Unable to communicate or comprehend the questionnaires