The addition of functional task-oriented mental practice to conventional physical therapy improves motor skills in daily functions after stroke

BACKGROUND: Mental practice (MP) is a cognitive strategy which may improve the acquisition of motor skills and functional performance of athletes and individuals with neurological injuries. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an individualized, specific functional task-oriented MP, when added to conventional physical therapy (PT), promoted better learning of motor skills in daily functions in individuals with chronic stroke (13±6.5 months post-stroke). METHOD: Nine individuals with stable mild and moderate upper limb impairments participated, by employing an A1-B-A2 single-case design. Phases A1 and A2 included one month of conventional PT, and phase B the addition of MP training to PT. The motor activity log (MAL-Brazil) was used to assess the amount of use (AOU) and quality of movement (QOM) of the paretic upper limb; the revised motor imagery questionnaire (MIQ-RS) to assess the abilities in kinesthetic and visual motor imagery; the Minnesota manual dexterity test to assess manual dexterity; and gait speed to assess mobility. RESULTS: After phase A1, no significant changes were observed for any of the outcome measures. However, after phase B, significant improvements were observed for the MAL, AOU and QOM scores (p<0.0001), and MIQ-RS kinesthetic and visual scores (p=0.003; p=0.007, respectively). The significant gains in manual dexterity (p=0.002) and gait speed (p=0.019) were maintained after phase A2. CONCLUSIONS: Specific functional task-oriented MP, when added to conventional PT, led to improvements in motor imagery abilities combined with increases in the AOU and QOM in daily functions, manual dexterity, and gait speed

Estudo de seguimento da função motora de indivíduos pós-acidente vascular encefálico

Se buscó caracterizar y analizar cambios en las variables relacionadas a la función motora de hemiparéticos crónicos después de un período medio de siete años. Se colectaron por teléfono datos demográficos y clínicos de hemiparéticos evaluados en 2003. Todos fueron invitados a participar de reevaluación, donde se colectaron medidas de fuerza de la musculatura respiratoria, desempeño funcional, capacidad física y nivel de actividad física. Estadísticas descriptivas, tests t pareados o Wilcoxon fueron utilizados para análisis de los datos. De los 101 hemiparéticos evaluados presencialmente en 2003, se contactaron por teléfono 65 de ellos o sus familiares, siendo que 35 (64,6±10,6 años) respondieron las preguntas por teléfono, 22 (56,8±13,3 años) fueron evaluados presencialmente y 8 fallecieron. Después de una media de siete años de seguimiento, en relación a las medidas realizadas presencialmente, ninguna variable presentó diferencia significativa entre las evaluaciones (0,08The aim of this study was to characterize and analyze changes in the variables related to the motor function of chronic hemiparetic patients after a period of seven years. The demographic and clinical data of the participants, who were initially assessed in 2003, were collected by telephone. All individuals were invited to participate in the reassessments, which included data related to respiratory strength, functional performance, physical ability, and physical activity levels. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon or paired t-tests were used for analyses. Out of the 101 hemiparetic partcipants, who were initially assessed in 2003, 65 subjects or their relatives were contacted by telephone; 35 (64.5±10.6 years) answered the questions by telephone, 8 passed away, and 22 (56.8±13.3 years) were physically assessed. After a mean follow up of seven years, none of the physically assessed variables showed significant differences between the two assessments (0.08Objetivou-se caracterizar e analisar mudanças nas variáveis relacionadas à função motora de hemiparéticos crônicos após um período médio de sete anos. Coletaram-se via telefone dados demográficos e clínicos de hemiparéticos avaliados em 2003. Todos foram convidados a participar da reavaliação, em que se coletaram medidas de força da musculatura respiratória, desempenho funcional, capacidade física e nível de atividade física. Estatísticas descritivas, testes t pareado ou Wilcoxon foram utilizados para análise dos dados. Dos 101 hemiparéticos avaliados presencialmente em 2003, contataram-se por telefone 65 deles ou seus familiares, sendo que 35 (64,6±10,6 anos) responderam às questões por telefone, 22 (56,8±13,3 anos) foram avaliados presencialmente e 8 faleceram. Após uma média de sete anos de seguimento, em relação às medidas realizadas presencialmente, nenhuma variável apresentou diferença significativa entre as avaliações (0,0