Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of mirror therapy on upper limb motor function recovery and corticospinal tract remodeling after stroke. Methods From March, 2017 to March, 2019, 42 subcortical stroke patients with upper limb dysfunction from Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital were randomly divided into control group (n = 21) and observation group (n = 21). Both groups received routine rehabiliation, while the observation group received mirror therapy additionally, for twelve weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), and scanned with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) before and after treatment. The fractional anisotropy (FA) in posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC) was obtained. Results The scores of FMA-UE improved in both groups after treatment (t > 9.560, P < 0.001), and improved more in the observation group than in the control group (t > 2.634, P < 0.05). FA decreased significantly in the affected-lateral PLIC compared with that in the unaffected-lateral PLIC in both groups (t > 11.368, P < 0.001). FA in the affected side increased significantly after treatment in the observation group (t = 2.385, P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the control group (t = -0.596, P > 0.05). FA increased more significantly in the observation group than in the control group (t = 2.306, P < 0.05). Conclusion Mirror therapy can promote the recovery of motor function of upper limb and the corticospinal tract remodeling in stroke patients.

Key words: stroke, hemiplegia, upper limb, mirror therapy, diffusion tensor imaging, corticospinal tract