Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of motor imaginary therapy on lower limb motor function in hemiplegic patients after stroke. Methods Thirty-two hemiplegic patients after stroke were randomly divided into experiment group (n=16) and control group (n=16). Conventional rehabilitation was conducted in both group, and motor imaginary therapy was performed in experiment group after conventional rehabilitation (once a day, 15 min for each time). The treatment was made up of three stages: first stage, from the first week to the third week; second stage, from the fourth week to the fifth week (systemic conventional rehabilitation and motor imagery therapy were not performed during this period); and the third stage, from the sixth week to the eighth week. The therapeutic outcomes were evaluated with Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA) and functional independent measurement (FIM). Results There was no significant difference in FMA and FIM scores between two groups before treatment (P>0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the FMA and FIM scores significantly increased after each stage of treatment in both groups (P<0.01), while there was no significant difference between FMA and FIM scores before the second stage of treatment and those after the second stage of treatment. The FMA and FIM scores in experiment group were significantly higher than those in control group in each stage of treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion Motor imaginary therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation can improve the lower limb motor function and activities of daily living in hemiplegic patients after stroke.

Key words: motor imaginary therapy, stroke, cerebral hemiplegia, lower limb motor function, rehabilitation training