Influence of motor imagery training on gait rehabilitation in sub-acute stroke: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of mental practice on motor imagery ability and assess the influence of motor imagery on gait rehabilitation in sub-acute stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Subjects: A total of 44 patients with gait dysfunction after first-ever stroke were randomly allocated to a motor imagery training group and a muscle relaxation group. Methods: The motor imagery group received 6 weeks of daily mental practice. The relaxation group received a muscle relaxation programme of equal duration. Motor imagery ability and lower limb function were assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment. Motor imagery ability was tested using a questionnaire and mental chronometry test. Gait outcome was evaluated using a 10-m walk test (near transfer) and the Fugl-Meyer assessment (far transfer). Results: Significant between-group differences were found, with the vividness of kinesthetic imagery and the walking test results improving more in the motor imagery group than in the muscle relaxation group. There was no group interaction effect for the far transfer outcome score. Conclusion: Motor imagery training may have a beneficial task-specific effect on gait function in sub-acute stroke; however, longer term confirmation is required.

Give me a kiss! An integrative rehabilitative training program with motor imagery and mirror therapy for recovery of facial palsy

“…MT, which has existed since the 1990s, used initially as a therapy for pain in phantom limb syndrome in amputees. Several years later, this technique began to be used by patients with hemiparesis due to cerebral injuries, and today it has become useful for other pathologies [38].…”

Motor Imagery and Action Observation as Effective Tools for Physical Therapy

“…The effects of motor imagery were observed in upper extremity function in subacute [16] and chronic [23] stroke patients, gait function in subacute [15,18] and chronic [20][21][22] stroke patients, and balance functions in chronic stroke patients [22]. Motor imagery used for motor recovery showed a lack of results in subacute stroke patients with limited upper extremity function [19], stroke patients struggling with goal attainment and Neurological Physical Therapy task performance [17], and those with traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis [23].…”

“…Motor imagery studies were conducted on several diseases relating to the central nervous system and acute injuries involving orthopedics such as subacute stroke [15][16][17][18][19], chronic stroke [20][21][22], traumatic brain injury [23], multiple sclerosis [23], shoulder impingement syndrome [24], postsurgical anterior cruciate ligament [25], postsurgical flexor tendon repair [26], burn injury [27], phantom limb pain [28], complex regional pain syndrome [28,29], and motor coordination problems [30]. Table 1 lists motor imagery clinical studies found in PubMed.…”

Mirror Neuron Applications on Motor Recovery in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review

“…Of the 44 studies, 4 interventions-based on mirror neurons-were studied. (20 studies [9:28] used mirror therapy, 12 studies [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] used mental practice/motor imagery, 11 studies [41:51] used action observation and 1 study used virtual reality reflection therapy).…”