title: Effect of Motor Imagery on the F-Wave Parameters in Hemiparetic Stroke Survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of motor imagery, as a rehabilitation method in stroke, on F-wave parameters that undergo changes during upper motor neuron involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one fully conscious hemiparetic stroke survivors with a completely plegic hand (power 0/5) and a minimum interval of 72 hours since stroke were recruited into this study. The mean F-wave latency, amplitude, and persistence in the median and ulnar nerves were measured in both the affected and non-affected sides at rest and in the paretic hand during a mental task. Comparison was made between data from the affected hand and the non-affected hand as well as between data from the affected hand at baseline and during motor imagery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients had significantly different F-wave persistence between the affected and non-affected sides (paired t-test, p<0.001). Motor imagery could improve F-wave persistence in both the investigated nerves (paired t-test, p=0.01 for ulnar nerve and p<0.001 for median nerve) and F-response amplitude in the median nerve (paired t-test, p=0.01) of the affected limb.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amplitude and persistence of F-wave were improved during motor imagery, representing F-wave facilitation. This result suggests that motor imagery can restore motor neuron excitability, which is depressed after stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Shiraz Burn Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahshid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naseri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shiraz University of Medical, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petramfar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Shiraz Burn Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashraf
keywords: F-wave; Hemiplegia; Motor imagery; Stroke