title: Motor imagery training improves precision of an upper limb movement in patients with hemiparesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.|School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Luzia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grabherr
authors.affiliation: Division of Social and Health Sciences - Psychology, Abertay University, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jola
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Triemli City Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berra
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Triemli City Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Theiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fred W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Mast
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Mental practice; physical therapy; rehabilitation; stroke