Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the effect of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) combined with motor imagery therapy (MIT) on the upper extremity function of stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods120 hemiplegic patients caused by brain injury were randomly divided into the control group, CIMT group, MIT group and combined therapy group with 30 cases in each group. The every group was treated with commensurate rehabilitation management respectively, 4 weeks as one course of treatment. All patients were assessed with the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF), the upper limb movement Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after the treatment.ResultsBefore the treatment, there was no significant difference in STEF, scores of upper limb movement FMA and MBI among the four groups ( P>0.05). After the treatment, the STEF, scores of upper limb movement FMA and MBI of the CIMT group and MIT group improved ( P<0.05), that of the combined therapy group were superior to any other group ( P<0.01).ConclusionCIMT and MIT can promote the recovery of upper extremity function of hemiplegic patient, but the better therapeutic effect will be obtained when these two therapies combined.

Key words: constraint-induced movement therapy, motor imagery therapy, stroke, upper extremity function