title: Effectiveness of motor imagery or mental practice in functional recovery after stroke: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent decades, many stroke rehabilitation methods have been developed. Mental practice (MP) is a dynamic state in which the subject evokes an imaginary representation of a motor action or skill in order to learn or perfect that action. Although functional imaging has shown that MP produces similar cortical activation patterns to those of movement, the clinical effectiveness of such methods in rehabilitation and functional recovery has yet to be demonstrated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic search of all clinical studies published in the main scientific databases between December 2011 and October 2012 concerning mental practice in stroke rehabilitation. We selected 23 clinical trials testing different MP protocols in patients with hemiparesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MP is effective when used in conjunction with conventional physical therapy for functional rehabilitation of both upper and lower limbs, as well as for the recovery of daily activities and skills. Owing to the heterogeneity of the studies with regard to the intervention protocol, specific imagery technique, time spent practicing, patient characteristics, etc., more studies are needed in order to determine the optimal treatment protocol and patient profile.
authors.affiliation: Asociación Mostoleña de Esclerosis Múltiple (AMDEM), Móstoles, Madrid, España; Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: diana_dgc@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Rehabilitación, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcon, Alcorcon, Madrid, España; Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aboitiz Cantalapiedra
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Entrenamiento mental; Hemiparesia; Hemiparesis; Ictus; Imaginería mental; Mental imagery; Mental practice; Motor imagery; Práctica mental; Rehabilitación; Rehabilitation; Stroke