Motor Imagery for Neurorehabilitation: The F-Wave Study

The immediate enrollment in rehabilitation program and facilitation of the excitability of spinal motor neurons are very important for post-stroke patients. We previously suggested that persistence and the F/M amplitude ratio, indicator of the excitability of spinal motor neurons, were significantly increased during MI. Thus, MI has a greater effect on the excitability of spinal motor neurons. We also indicated that the imagined muscle contraction strength may not affect the excitability of spinal motor neurons. Further, kinesthetic imagery can more facilitate the excitability of spinal motor neurons. However, longer duration of MI may not affect the excitability of spinal motor neurons. Therefore, slight imagined muscle contraction strength may be sufficient to facilitate the excitability of spinal motor neurons, and duration and strategy of imagery should be considered in neurorehabilitation

Effectiveness of Motor Imagery on Physical Therapy: Neurophysiological Aspects of Motor Imagery

Immediate enrollment in physical therapy and facilitation of the spinal motor neuron excitability are very important. We previously suggested that the F-wave parameters were significantly increased during motor imagery. Thus, motor imagery is a beneficial method to facilitate the spinal motor neuron excitability for patients with various motor dysfunctions. We also indicated that the imagined muscle contraction strength may not affect the spinal motor neuron excitability. Additionally, kinesthetic imagery can more facilitate the spinal motor neuron excitability; however, longer duration of motor imagery may decrease the spinal motor neuron excitability. Thus, when applying motor imagery to physical therapy, slight imagined muscle contraction strength may be sufficient to facilitate the spinal motor neuron excitability, and the duration and strategy of imagery should be considered

The Application of Motor Imagery to Neurorehabilitation

We investigated the influence of the imagined muscle contraction strength on the spinal motor neural excitability and sympathetic nerve activity by using the F-wave and heart rate variability analysis. Motor imagery of isometric thenar muscle activity increased the spinal motor neuron excitability and sympathetic nerve activity. The imagined muscle contraction strength did not affect changes of the spinal motor neuron excitability and sympathetic nerve activity. Therefore, Motor imagery at slight imagined muscle contraction strength can facilitate the spinal motor neuron excitability without physical load. Motor imagery-based Brain-machine interface is widely used for neurorehabilitation. To achieve better outcomes in neurorehabilitation used Brain-machine interface, performing trained motor imagery would be required, and the F-wave may be exploited an index of motor imagery training effect