Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of mirror therapy (MT) combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) on motor of lower extremities, walking ability and activities of daily living for subacute stroke patients. Methods From July, 2016 to December, 2017, 38 subacute stroke patients were randomly divided into treatment group (n=20) and control group (n=18). All the patients received routine rehabilitation. The control group accepted FES, and the treatment group accepted FES and MT, for eight weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremities (FMA-LE), Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. Results Both groups improved in the scores of FMA-LE and MBI, and grade of FAC after treatment (Z>3.002, t>7.985, P<0.01), and the scores of FMA-LE improved more in the treatment group than in the control group (Z=-2.037, P<0.05). There was no difference between two groups in the scores of MBI and grade of FAC (t=-1.044, Z=-1.287, P>0.05). Conclusion The addition of MT on FES may further improve the lower extremities motor function, but not enough to improve their walking and activities of daily living in subacute stroke patients.

Key words: stroke, subacute, mirror therapy, functional electrical stimulation, lower extremities, motor, walking, activities of daily living