Article

In healthy participants, beneficial effects of motor imagery training
on movement execution have been shown for precision, strength, and speed. In the
clinical context, it is still debated whether motor imagery provides an effective
rehabilitation technique in patients with motor deficits. OBJECTIVE: To compare
the effectiveness of two different types of movement training: motor imagery vs.
motor execution. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with hemiparesis were assigned to
one of two training groups: the imagery or the execution-training group. Both
groups completed a baseline test before they received six training sessions, each
of which was followed by a test session. Using a novel and precisely quantifiable
test, we assessed how accurately patients performed an upper limb movement.
RESULTS: Both training groups improved performance over the six test sessions but
the improvement was significantly larger in the imagery group. That is, the
imagery group was able to perform more precise movements than the execution group
after the sixth training session while there was no difference at the beginning
of the training. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide evidence for the benefit of
motor imagery training in patients with hemiparesis and thus suggest the
integration of cognitive training in conventional physiotherapy practice.

Langue : ANGLAIS