Impact of motor imaginary therapy on recovery of upper limb function in patients with acute cerebral infarction / 国际脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the impact of motor imaginary therapy on the recovery of upper limb function in acute cerebral infarction patients with bemiplegia. Methods Fifty cerebral infarction patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into a control group (drug therapy + early exercise therapy) and a motor imaginary therapy group (drug therapy + early exercise therapy + motor imaginary therapy) using single-blind method (n = 25 in each group). Ipsilateral upper extremity function was assessed by the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) before the treatment and at day 40. The active range of motion (AROM) of the ipsilateral wrist was measured by a conimeter. Eating, washing, dressing, and putting on and off clothes were assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale. Results The scores of FMA, AROM and FIM were increased more significantly than those before the treatment in both groups (P <0.05). All the scores in the motor imaginary therapy group after the treatment were superior to those in the control group (P <0. 05) (FMA 28.33 ± 8.63 versus 15.93 ± 5.39;AROM 19.55 ± 8.30 versus11.97 ± 6.59; FIM 16.83 ± 5.43 versus 12.51 ± 3.36).Conclusions Conventional motor rehabilitation training + motor imaginary therapy during the acute phase may promote the motor function reco,,ery in cerebral infarction patients with hemiplegia.