Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the circadian modulation on motor imagery quality for older
adult inpatients to determine the best time of day to use motor imagery in
rehabilitation activities. DESIGN: Time series posttest only. SETTING: Inpatient
rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included older adult inpatients
(N=34) who were hospitalized for diverse geriatric or neurogeriatric reasons.
They were able to sit without assistance, manipulate objects, and walk 10m in <30
seconds without technical help or with a walking stick. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: The executed and imagined durations of writing and walking
movements were recorded 7 times a day (9:15 am-4:45 pm), at times compatible with
the hours of rehabilitation activities. Motor imagery quality was evaluated by
computing the isochrony index (ie, absolute difference between the average
duration of executed and imagined actions) for each trial and each inpatient. The
cosinor method was used to analyze the time series for circadian rhythmicity.
RESULTS: Imagined movements duration and isochrony index exhibited circadian
modulations, whereas no such rhythmic changes appeared for executed movements.
Motor imagery quality was better late in the morning, at approximately 10:18 am
and 12:10 pm for writing and walking, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive and
sensorimotor aspects of motor behaviors differed among the older adults. The
temporal features of motor imagery showed a clear circadian variation. From a
practical perspective, this study offers information on an effective schedule for
motor imagery in rehabilitation activities with older adult inpatients.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS