| Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of motor imagery (MI) on motor recovery for stroke patients, and to summarize the fittest training program. Methods: Sixty stroke patients were randomly divided into the motor imagery (MI) group (n=6), the executive motion (EM) group (n=5) and the control group (CG) (n=5). The patients in the MI group were treated with the MI training, and those in the EM group trained with the actual operation. Each training time took 30 min, 20 times totally, in a period of four weeks. The patients in the CG group received conventional rehabilitation only. Patients were assessed by Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF), Fugl-Meyer assessment of motor function (FMA) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after training. Results: After 4 weeks of training, the scores of the FMA and STEF were higher in the MI group and the EM group than before training (P<0.05), and those were significantly improved in the MI group and the EM group when compared with the CG group (P<0.05), especially the MI group. There was no significant improvement of MBI score among the three groups. Conclusions: MI combined with the physical therapy had a more significant advantage on restoration of hand function than conventional rehabilitation. |
