BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke patients often suffer from several impairments such as sensory, motor, cognitive and emotional disorders. These conditions cause limitations in performing daily activities. This study sought to assess the effect of action observation and imitation on improvement of functional activity indices in hemiparetic patients based on mirror neuron theory. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single blind clinical trial was carried out including 36 men and women (aged 45 to 60 years) suffering from ischemic CVA for the first time. Subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups of functional film, non-functional (symbols) film and a control (that did not watch any film) group. Usual rehabilitation treatments were performed for all groups. Timed up and go, and six-minute walk were done and Barthel Index and Berg Balance Scale were applied. RESULTS: The differences in functional activity indices were statistically significant in all 3 groups before and after the intervention. However, these differences were more significant in group 1. (Timed up and go (p = 0.001), six-minute walk (p = 0.003), Barthel functional activities (p = 0.006), and Berg Balance (p = 0.000)). CONCLUSION: Action observation and imitation with rehabilitation exercises and targeted motor activities (by stimulating the brain's plasticity) had a positive effect on improvement of functional activity indices in post-stroke patients.

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