The effect of mental imagining training for improving upper extremity function in subacute stroke patient

Background: Over 50% of patients with upper limb paresis resulting from stroke face long-term impaired arm function and ensuing disability in daily life. The incidence of stroke increases dogmatically with age, doubling in the decade after 65 years of age. Early rehabilitation treatment in the first phase of stroke is currently advice in clinical guidelines and little evidence is available on such treatment for improving arm/hand function in the same period. Unfortunately, the number of effective treatments aimed at improving arm function due to stroke is still low. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate a new therapy for improving upper extremity function in sub-acute stroke patients based on mental practice theories and functional task-oriented training, and to study the predictors for a positive treatment result. Material and methods: 30 sub-acute stroke patients with upper limb paresis were selected by simple random sampling in this study. The experimental group undertook 12 week, individually tailored therapy regime focused on improving upper extremity function using mental practice. Primary outcome measures assessed upper extremity functioning with Action Research Arm Test, Fugl Meyer Test, and Modified Asworth Scale. ANOVA was used in this study. Null hypothesis with alpha level was set at 0.05. Conclusion: Mental imagining training resulted in significant improvement in upper extremity function in sub acute stroke patient. However the improvement obtained in upper extremity function found no significant difference after mental imagining training between the groups.