Kinesthetic and visual imagery training are equally effective in upper extremity rehabilitation and improving ability in the activities of daily living after a stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of kinesthetic imagery and visual imagery on upper limb rehabilitation among stroke survivors.Methods Forty-five hemiplegic stroke survivors were randomly assigned into a kinesthetic imagery training group (n=14),a visual imagery training group (n=15) or a control group (n=16).In addition to conventional rehabilitation,patients in the kinesthetic and visual imagery training groups were given 30 minutes of the appropriate imagery training once a day,five days per week for four weeks,while the control group relaxed or received health education for the same time.Before and after the 4-week intervention,the upper limb section of the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA-UE) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to evaluate the motor function of the subjects' upper limb and their ability in the activities of daily living respectively.Results Before the intervention,there were no significant differences in the average FMA-UE and MBI scores among the 3 groups.After the intervention there was no significant difference between the average FMA-UE and MBI scores of the two training groups,but both were significantly better than the control group's averages.Conclusion Either kinesthetic or visual imagery training can improve the upper limb function of stroke survivors and their abihty in the activities of daily living.Their effectiveness is not significantly different.