title: Effect of mental practice on the improvement of function and daily activity performance of the upper extremity in patients with subacute stroke: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  More than 50% of patients with upper limb paresis after stroke face long-term impaired arm function and ensuing disability in daily life. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a task-oriented mental practice (MP) approach as an addition to regular arm-hand therapy in patients with subacute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, prospective, single-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed. Patients trained for 6 weeks, at least 3 times per day. In the experimental group, patients performed video-instructed MP. In the control group, patients performed neurodevelopmental therapy-based exercise therapy. The primary outcome measures are Fugl-Meyer test, Frenchay arm test, Wolf motor function test, and accelerometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients did improve over time on Fugl-Meyer test and Wolf motor function test in both the control and the experimental group. A significant improvement on the Frenchay arm test was found after training (which was maintained at 12-month follow-up) only in the experimental group. However, no difference in training effects between groups was demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training effects were demonstrated after MP training in patients with subacute stroke. However, the results of this study do not corroborate the hypothesis that the use of MP in addition to therapy as usual in patients with subacute stroke has an additional effect over neurodevelopmental therapy in addition to therapy as usual.
authors.affiliation: Research School for Public Health and Primary Care, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Annick.Timmermans@uhasselt.be
authors.forename: Annick A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Timmermans
authors.forename: Jeanine A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Verbunt
authors.forename: Rachma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Woerden
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moennekens
authors.forename: Dia H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pernot
authors.forename: Henk A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Seelen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*