Reuters reports that a mirror trick pioneered by a Japanese researcher can help to increase the speed at which a patient recovers from a stroke.
By using an optical illusion to create the effect that a patient's paralysed limb moves in tandem with a healthy one, a stroke patient's recovery appears to quicken - highlighting the potential of the mind as a treatment tool.
Speaking to the World Stroke Conference in Vienna, Kazu Amimoto, from Tokyo Metropolitan University, said: "The mental aspect of rehabilitation has far greater importance than previously understood and should be paid far more attention."
The news is welcome for people receiving stroke care, particularly those who have suffered Hemiplegia, a condition in which half of a patient's body is paralysed - a common long-term effect of a stroke.
Amimoto's pioneering treatment involved placing a mirror in the middle of a patient's body, which simulated the movement of the healthy limbs - making it appear that the paralysed ones were moving in the same fashion.
Current therapy involves aims to restore mobility by using physical exercise and stimulation on the patient's paralysed arms and legs.