ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of mirror therapy (MT) combined with movement imagination therapy (MI) on the upper limb function of hemiplegic stroke patients.Methods Ninety stroke survivors with hemiplegia were randomly divided into three groups:A,B and C.Their routine rehabilitation was supplemented with MI in group A,with MT in group B and in group C with both for 8 weeks.The evaluations used the Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment (FMA),Carroll's upper extremity function evaluation (UEFT) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).Results After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment,significant improvement was observed in the average FMA,UEFT and MBI scores of all three groups compared with before the treatment.After 4 and 8 weeks all of the average scores in group B were significantly higher than those of group A at the same time point,For group C,their average scores were significantly better than those of both of the other groups.Conclusion Mirror therapy is superior to exercise imagination therapy,but their combination is more effective in promoting upper limb function and improving ability in daily activities than either alone.Longer treatment has better effects.