The efficacy of graded motor imagery in post-traumatic stiffness of elbow: a randomized controlled trial

The effectiveness of graded motor imagery training on pain and functionality in patients with subacromial pain syndrome: A prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial

Background

Pain from subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) can limit individuals' daily activities and reduce physical performance. The effectiveness of graded motor imagery (GMI) training for this condition remains unexplored. This prospective, randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the effects of GMI training in patients with chronic painful SAPS.

Methods

Forty-two patients with SAPS were randomly assigned to the GMI (n = 21) and the control (n = 21) groups. Primary measures were the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Secondary measures were Active Range of Motion (AROM), muscle strength, lateralization performance and Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ). Evaluations occurred at baseline, postintervention (6 weeks), and after a 6-week follow up.

Results

The GMI group showed significantly greater improvements in both primary and secondary outcomes compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Significantly larger effect sizes were found in favor of the GMI group for VAS, DASH, abduction, external rotation AROM, muscle strength, lateralization performance, and KVIQ (ηp2 < 0.14, p < 0.05, for all).

Conclusions

The integration of GMI training into conventional physiotherapy for SAPS rehabilitation provides more effective clinical results in improving pain intensity and increasing functionality.

The Effects of Motor Imagery on Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis in Women During the Post-Surgical Immobilization Period: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis is the second most frequent degenerative hand disease, and it presents in 66% of women over the age of 55. Post-surgery immobilization results in functional losses that could be attenuated by motor imagery training. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of motor imagery training during the post-surgical immobilization period in women who underwent surgery for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed. A total of 40 patients satisfied the eligibility criteria, agreed to participate, and were randomized into an experimental group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). Motor imagery was applied to the experimental group during the 3 weeks of post-surgical immobilization and to the control group with the conventional protocol. Measurement outcomes were assessed four times throughout the study using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, the Cochin Hand Function Scale questionnaire, the Visual Analogue Scale, goniometry, a baseline pinch gauge, circumferential measurement, and the modified Kapandji Index. Results: There were significant improvements in the motor imagery group compared with the control group in post-motor imagery, pre- and post-rehabilitation measurements, functional pain (p < 0.001), rest pain (p < 0.01), hand mobility (p < 0.001), range of motion (p < 0.05), and wrist edema (p < 0.04); there were also improvements in pre- and post-rehabilitation measurements, quality of life in relation to upper limb function problems (p < 0.04), the post-rehabilitation measurement of hand functionality (p = 0.02), and post-motor imaging in finger-to-finger pinch strength. There were no statistically significant differences in the rest of the variables. Conclusions: Early intervention with motor imagery could be effective for resting and functional pain, quality of life in relation to upper limb problems, functional capacity, mobility, range of motion, strength, and edema.

Does Integration of Graded Motor Imagery Training Augment the Efficacy of a Multimodal Physiotherapy Program for Patients With Frozen Shoulder? A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Despite the availability of numerous treatment modalities for frozen shoulder, spanning from nonsurgical approaches to surgical interventions, a consensus regarding the most effective treatment remains elusive. Current studies emphasize that pain in frozen shoulder affects central nervous system activity and leads to changes in cortical structures, which are responsible for processing sensory information (like pain) and controlling motor functions (like movement). These cortical changes highlight the importance of including the central nervous system in the management of frozen shoulder. It is therefore recommended that treatment should provide more effective management by focusing not only on the shoulder region but also on the cortical areas thought to be affected.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

Among patients treated nonsurgically for frozen shoulder, is graded motor imagery added to a multimodal physical therapy program more effective than multimodal physical therapy alone in terms of (1) Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scores, (2) pain with activities and QuickDASH (Q-DASH) scores, and (3) ROM after 8 weeks of treatment?

METHODS

In this randomized clinical trial, we considered the following as eligible for inclusion: (1) ROM < 50% compared with the unaffected shoulder, (2) clinically and radiologically confirmed primary frozen shoulder, and (3) 30% loss of joint ROM in at least two planes compared with the unaffected shoulder. Diagnosis of patients was based on patient history, symptoms, clinical examination, and exclusion of other conditions. A total of 38 patients with frozen shoulder were randomly assigned to either the graded motor imagery group (n = 19) or the multimodal physiotherapy group (n = 19). The groups did not differ in age, height, weight, gender, and dominant and affected side. In both groups, there were no losses to follow-up during the study period, and there was no crossover between groups. The multimodal physiotherapy program encompassed a variety of treatments, including stretching exercises, ROM exercises, joint-oriented mobilization techniques, scapular mobilization, strengthening exercises, and the application of cold agents. The graded motor imagery program, as an addition to the multimodal physiotherapy program, included the following steps: (1) left-right discrimination (identifying left and right body parts), (2) motor imagery (mentally visualizing movements), and (3) mirror therapy training (using mirrors to trick the brain into thinking the affected part is moving). Both groups of patients participated in a program of 12 sessions, each lasting approximately 45 minutes, twice a week for 6 weeks. Participants were assessed at baseline, after 6 weeks, and at 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the SPADI score, which ranges from 0 to 100, with higher values denoting greater disability. The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for SPADI scores is reported to be 13.2 points. Secondary outcomes were shoulder ROM, Numeric Pain Rating Scale activity score (scored from 0 points, indicating "no pain," to 10 points, indicating "worst pain imaginable"), and Q-DASH score (ranging from 0 to 100 points, with a higher score indicating higher functional disability). Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare means between one or more variables based on repeated observations.

RESULTS

After 8 weeks of treatment, patients treated with graded motor imagery plus multimodal physical therapy experienced greater mean ± SD improvement from baseline in terms of SPADI scores than did the multimodal physical therapy group (65 ± 9 versus 55 ± 12, mean difference 10 points [95% confidence interval 4 to 17 points]; p = 0.01). Graded motor imagery when added to standard therapy did not produce a clinically important difference in pain scores with activity compared with physical therapy alone (7.0 ± 1.3 versus 5.9 ± 1.4, mean difference 1 point [95% CI 0.2 to 2.0 points], which was below our prespecified MCID; p = 0.04). However, improvements in Q-DASH score at 8 weeks were superior in the graded motor imagery group by a clinically important margin (58 ± 6 versus 50 ± 10, mean difference 9 points [95% CI 3 to 14 points], which was below our prespecified MCID; p = 0.01). ROM was generally better in the group that received the program augmented by graded motor imagery, but the differences were generally small.

CONCLUSION

Adding graded motor imagery to a multimodal physiotherapy program was clinically superior to multimodal physiotherapy alone in improving function in patients with frozen shoulder. However, no clinically superior scores were achieved in ROM or activity-related pain. Additionally, the follow-up period was short, considering the tendency of frozen shoulder to recur. Although adding graded motor imagery provides superiority in many scores and does not require high-budget equipment, the disadvantages such as the difference in some scores being sub-MCID and the need for expertise and experience should not be ignored. Consequently, while graded motor imagery shows promise, further research with longer follow-up periods is recommended to fully understand its benefits and limitations in the treatment of frozen shoulder.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, therapeutic study.

[Cyberful-Virtual reality in arm and hand rehabilitation]

The implementation of specialized follow-up treatment of functional disorders and associated pain of the arm and hand is a challenge. As part of a collaborative project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), an innovative and noninvasive visualization technology was developed that is independent of the location and infrastructure. The virtual reality (VR) system NeuroXR integrates highly specialized and established treatment approaches, such as guided movement exercises, motor imagery and mirror therapy for successful seamless and highly specific sensorimotor rehabilitation. This VR treatment addresses not only amputations and nerve injuries but also other traumatic and neurological functional and sensory disorders of the upper extremities, along with associated pain phenomena. This article explores the fundamental principles of the system, its therapeutic applications and the potential of this innovative technology to improve current sensorimotor rehabilitation practices and improve the quality of life for affected individuals.

Evaluating the impact of movement representation techniques on recovery outcomes in post-orthopaedic surgery individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although movement representation techniques has originally been used in neurological rehabilitation, growing researches suggests that it may also introduce advantageous effects to individuals with orthopaedic injuries. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of these techniques on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, functional performance and fear of movement in individuals after orthopaedic surgeries.

METHOD

Five electronic databases were searched until April 2024. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection and data extraction. Randomized controlled studies containing individuals after limb surgeries were identified. The quality of enrolled studies and the overall certainty of evidence was assessed by scales, respectively. Egger's test and funnel plot were used to assess publication bias. Subgroup analysis was also conducted to explore the source of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Twenty-one randomized controlled trials involving 659 postsurgical participants were identified. The meta-analysis suggested moderate-quality evidence of a positive effect on pain intensity (SMD=-0.85; 95% CI -1.26, -0.43; p < 0.001). A low quality of evidence pointed toward a positive effect on functional scales (SMD=-0.84, 95% CI -1.27, -0.41, p < 0.001) and range of motion (SMD = 0.8, 95% CI 0.24, 1.35, p = 0.005). The very low quality of evidence suggested a significant effect on the functional test results (SMD=-0.8, 95% CI -1.01, -0.58, p < 0.001). The results remained nonsignificant for muscle strength and fear of movement. Intervention quantity, Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score and intervention content were the sources of heterogeneity for pain intensity, functional scale score and range of motion, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Compared with conventional rehabilitation, movement representation techniques increase pain relief, functional performance and range of motion. Our results support the use of mental practice techniques in individuals after orthopaedic surgeries, with moderate to very low-quality evidence.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

This trial was registered on PROSPERO on 10 August, 2024 (CRD42024583380).

Lower limb motor imagery EEG dataset based on the multi-paradigm and longitudinal-training of stroke patients

Motor dysfunction is one of the most significant sequelae of stroke, with lower limb impairment being a major concern for stroke patients. Motor imagery (MI) technology based on brain-computer interface (BCI) offers promising rehabilitation potential for stroke patients by activating motor-related brain areas. However, developing a robust BCI-MI system and uncovering the underlying mechanisms of neural plasticity during stroke recovery through such systems requires large-scale datasets. These datasets are particularly needed for accurate lower limb MI in stroke patients and for longitudinal data reflecting the rehabilitation process. This study addresses this gap by collecting EEG data from 27 stroke patients, covering two enhanced paradigms and three different time points. The dataset includes raw EEG signals, preprocessed data, and patient information. An initial analysis using CSP-SVM on the dataset yielded an average classification accuracy of 80.50%. We anticipate that this dataset will facilitate research into brain neuroplasticity in stroke patients, aid in the development of decoding algorithms for lower limb stroke, and contribute to the establishment of comprehensive stroke rehabilitation systems.

Dual-Task Resistance Training Improves Strength and Reduces Pain More Than Resistance Exercise Alone in Elbow Fracture Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects on strength, pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), and functionality of a 12-week dual-task resistance exercise program in patients undergoing rehabilitation from elbow fractures.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals undergoing elbow fracture rehabilitation (N=32).

INTERVENTION

Randomization was performed sequentially using numbered envelopes containing assignments to either an intervention group (dual-task resistance training using a mathematical task with self-regulation, N=18) or a control group (traditional resistance training, N=14) for 12 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes were muscle strength for elbow flexors and extensors and pain assessed by the visual analog scale from 0 to 100 mm. The secondary outcomes were kinesiophobia assessed by the Tampa Scale-11 and disability using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire and passive ROM.

RESULTS

Dual-task resistance training improved strength and reduced pain more than resistance training alone (P<.05), and only the dual-task group improved in kinesiophobia (P<.05). The linear regression showed a significant negative association between kinesiophobia and increased elbow strength in the dual-task group (flexion, r=-0.53, P=.024; extension, r=-0.65, P=.004) but not in the control group (P>.05). No significant differences were observed between the group for disability and passive ROM (P>.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dual-task resistance training and traditional resistance training both enhance strength, reduce pain, improve functionality, and increase ROM after 12 weeks of elbow fracture rehabilitation. However, dual-task resistance training is superior to resistance training alone in enhancing strength and reducing pain.

Efficacy of mirror neuron system-based therapy for rehabilitation of upper limb orthopedic conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy of mirror neuron system-based therapy for managing pain and improving motor and upper limb function in patients with upper limb orthopedic conditions.

LITERATURE SURVEY

Systematic bibliographical searches of the PubMed, SCOPUS, and CENTRAL registries and databases up to September 2023 were conducted to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of mirror neuron system-based therapy for rehabilitation of upper limb orthopedic conditions.

METHODOLOGY

Two reviewers assessed the RCTs using a Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and extracted data from studies with similar outcome measures in the domains of pain, motor function, or functional score, which were pooled into meta-analyses.

SYNTHESIS

The review included 13 studies to compare the efficacy of mirror neuron system-based therapy with that of conventional rehabilitation programs. The therapy reduced pain intensity (mean difference [MD] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46-2.63) and kinesiophobia (MD 8.43, 95% CI 6.98 to 9.88), and increased grip strength (MD 1.86, 95% CI 0.28-3.45). The therapy also improved upper limb functional outcomes as assessed by the 30-item Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire score (MD 13.52, 95% CI 10.63-16.41). However, the outcomes as assessed by the 11-item QuickDASH questionnaire and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) were not superior to conventional rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Mirror neuron system-based therapy for rehabilitation of upper limb orthopedic conditions may reduce pain intensity and kinesophobia, and improve grip strength and DASH scores compared with conventional rehabilitation programs. However, this interpretation is limited by the heterogeneity and various quality of the RCTs included in our meta-analysis.

Affective and Clinical Outcomes Related to Pain After Graded Motor Imagery in Patients With Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Pre-Post-Single-Group Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess at 6-month and 1-year follow-up the effect of graded motor imagery (GMI) in addition to usual care on the affective and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic shoulder pain. Methods: A pre-post-intervention single-group study was conducted. One hundred forty-eight patients with chronic shoulder pain were included. All participants received a 6-week GMI program in addition to usual care. The primary outcome assessed was pain intensity using visual analog scale (VAS), the secondary outcomes were fear of movement with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), catastrophization with the pain catastrophization scale (PCS), shoulder flexion active range of motion (AROM) with a goniometer, and central sensitization with the central sensitization inventory (CSI). All outcomes were assessed at baseline and 6-month and 1-year follow-up. Results: At 6 months, GMI showed to be statistically significant for all outcomes assessed (p < 0.001). At 1-year follow-up, the VAS showed a decrease of 3.3 cm (p < 0.001), TSK showed a decrease of 16.1 points (p < 0.001), PCS showed a decrease of 17.4 points (p < 0.001), AROM showed an increase of 29.9° (p < 0.001), and CSI showed a decrease of 17.9 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: At medium- and long-term follow-up, the individuals who received the GMI program in addition to usual care showed a clinically and statistically significant change for all outcomes assessed. Further studies, including clinical trials, are needed to confirm our findings.

Effectiveness of conservative treatment in the management of post-traumatic elbow stiffness: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Post-traumatic elbow stiffness is a common consequence following trauma or surgery, resulting in significant limb disability, with a negative impact on daily life. Although conservative treatment is the first-line approach, it is not yet known which is most suitable and effective.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of conservative treatments in patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness.

METHOD

A protocol for this systematic review was published in PROSPERO (CRD42024517823). PRISMA standards were followed. An extensive systematic search was conducted in six databases (PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and PEDro), and the CENTRAL trial register. Two reviewers independently assessed, selected results, collected data, rated the risk of bias (RoB) of included studies with the Cochrane risk of bias tool, synthesized the available evidence, and rated it using GRADE methodology.

RESULTS

Five studies were included in the review, although high variability in interventions and comparators precluded the synthesis of results into a meta-analysis. Large effect sizes were observed when conservative treatment was initiated immediately after immobilization, improving elbow functionality (SMD 3.07; 95%CI 1.91 to 4.23), and pain (SMD 1.83; 95%CI 0.91 to 2.76). Results indicate that Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (SMD = -1.22; 95%CI [-1.90, -0.54]) and Graded Motor Imagery (SMD = -2.79; 95%CI [-3.59, -2.00]) were more effective than comparisons in recovering elbow functionality and pain reduction.

CONCLUSION

Although conservative treatment is recommended as a first-line approach, the best conservative treatment cannot be determined with certainty due to the low to very low confidence in the results.

The effects of the mirror therapy on shoulder function in patients with breast cancer following surgery: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Shoulder dysfunction is one of the most bothersome questions for breast cancer survivors. Studies show that mirror therapy can improve shoulder function in patients with a limited shoulder range of motion and shoulder pain. Here, this article reports the results of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of the mirror therapy on shoulder function in patients with breast cancer following surgical treatments.

METHODS

Totally, 79 participants were divided to two groups receiving active range-of-motion upper limb exercise based on the mirror therapy or active range-of-motion upper limb exercise respectively for 8 weeks. Shoulder range of motion, Constant-Murley Score, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Visual analog scale, and grip strength were measured at baseline (T0), 2 weeks (T1), 4 weeks (T2), and 8 weeks (T3). The effects of the intervention on shoulder function were analyzed in generalized estimation equation, from group, time, and the interactions between group and time based on the data from participants who completed at least one post-baseline observation RESULTS: At least one post-baseline observation was performed by 69 participants (n=34 mirror group, n=35 control group). 28(82.35%) participants in the mirror group adhered to the exercise compared to 30(85.71%) in the control group. Generalized estimation equation model showed group had main effects on forward flexion (Waldχ²=6.476, P=0.011), with the Cohen's d=0.54. The effects of the group on abduction, Constant-Murley Score, and Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire were significant when fix the effects of the time. At 8 weeks, participants in the mirror group showed an improvement in abduction compared to the control group (P=0.005), the Cohen's d was 0.70. At 8 weeks, participants in the mirror group had a higher Constant-Murley Score than control group (P=0.009), with Cohen's effect size value of d=0.64. The mirror group showed a greater improvement on the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire than control group at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks (P≤0.032), but with a weak effect size value of all (r≤0.32). Group had main effects on Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (Waldχ²=6.631, P=0.010), with the Cohen's effect size value of d=0.56.

CONCLUSIONS

Mirror therapy improved shoulder flexion, abduction, shoulder function in daily life, and arm function and symptom of the affected shoulder in patients with breast cancer following surgical treatment, while decreasing fear of movement/(re)injury. Mirror configuration needs to be improved in further research to increase its feasibility.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Breast cancer survivors can try mirror therapy as a practical and effective method in shoulder rehabilitation for a promotion on effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2000033080.

Enhanced Muscle Endurance Through Self-regulated Dual-Task Exercises in Elbow Fracture Rehabilitation: A Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a self-regulated dual task on muscle endurance within a single rehabilitation session in patients recovering from an elbow fracture.

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study of individuals recovering from elbow fractures ( N = 20). Muscle endurance was tested using elastic bands at Borg's CR10 intensity 3-during four conditions: single-task and dual-task for elbow flexion and extension.

RESULTS

The cognitive condition significantly influenced muscle endurance ( P < 0.001), while the type of elbow exercise (flexion or extension) did not show significant differences ( P = 0.592). The perceived difficulty of the tasks showed a significant interaction effect ( P = 0.032). The dual-task condition showed an average increase of about 15 repetitions. A moderate negative correlation was found between the differences in repetitions and the perceived difficulty of the flexion exercise ( r = 0.677, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Dual-task with self-regulation enhances muscle endurance among patients recovering from an elbow fracture. However, the improvements seem to depend on the perceived difficulty of the cognitive task. Future randomized controlled trials are required to understand the therapeutic implications of dual-tasking.

Electrical stimulation-based paradigm to enhance lower limb motor imagery: initial validation in stroke patients

Lower limb motor dysfunction is a prevalent complication of stroke that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Current research indicates that motor imagery-based brain-computer interface (BCI-MI) training can assist stroke patients in enhancing motor function and reconstructing neural pathways. Nevertheless, 40% of stroke patients struggle with effective motor imagery (MI), leading to challenges in applying lower limb MI in clinical settings. Electrical stimulation (ES) has demonstrated the ability to induce muscle contractions, generating a kinesthetic illusion that effectively guides subjects in performing MI. However, the existing study lacks clarity regarding the effectiveness of the ES-MI paradigm in improving lower limb MI in stroke patients. To address this gap, we recruited seven stroke patients to participate in an experiment involving the ES-MI enhancement paradigm, aiming to validate its performance in stroke patients. The results revealed that the ES-MI paradigm augmented the activation of the motor cortex in the lower limb and reactivated dormant areas, suggesting that MI training based on the ES-MI paradigm holds promise for enhancing neural remodeling effects in stroke patients. Additionally, the paradigm enhanced the classification accuracy of SVM(+1.17%), KNN(+0.93%), RF(+7.13%), LDA(+5.29%), and EEGNet(+0.96%), indicating potential improvements in the efficiency and quality of human-robot interaction in brain-controlled lower limb rehabilitation robots.

Event-Related EEG Desynchronization Reveals Enhanced Motor Imagery From the Third Person Perspective by Manipulating Sense of Body Ownership With Virtual Reality for Stroke Patients

Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation training holds great potential for post-stroke motor recovery. Existing VR-based motor imagery (MI) paradigms mostly focus on the first-person perspective, and the benefit of the third-person perspective (3PP) remains to be further exploited. The 3PP is advantageous for movements involving the back or those with a large range because of its field coverage. Some movements are easier to imagine from the 3PP. However, the 3PP training efficiency may be unsatisfactory, which may be attributed to the difficulty encountered when generating a strong sense of ownership (SOO). In this work, we attempt to enhance a visual-guided 3PP MI in stroke patients by eliciting the SOO over a virtual avatar with VR. We propose to achieve this by inducing the so-called out-of-body experience (OBE), which is a full-body illusion (FBI) that people misperceive a 3PP virtual body as his/her own (i.e., generating the SOO to the virtual body). Electroencephalography signals of 13 stroke patients are recorded while MI of the affected upper limb is being performed. The proposed paradigm is evaluated by comparing event-related desynchronization (ERD) with a control paradigm without FBI induction. The results show that the proposed paradigm leads to a significantly larger ERD during MI, indicating a bilateral activation pattern consistent with that in previous studies. In conclusion, 3PP MI can be enhanced in stroke patients by eliciting the SOO through induction of the "OBE" FBI. This study offers more possibilities for virtual rehabilitation in stroke patients and can further facilitate VR application in rehabilitation.

Graded motor imagery and its phases for individuals with phantom limb pain following amputation: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Three-phase graded motor imagery (limb laterality, explicit motor imagery, and mirror therapy) has been successful in chronic pain populations. However, when applied to phantom limb pain, an amputation-related pain, investigations often use mirror therapy alone. We aimed to explore evidence for graded motor imagery and its phases to treat phantom limb pain.

DATA SOURCES

A scoping review was conducted following the JBI Manual of Synthesis and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Thirteen databases, registers, and websites were searched.

REVIEW METHODS

Published works on any date prior to the search (August 2023) were included that involved one or more graded motor imagery phases for participants ages 18+ with amputation and phantom limb pain. Extracted data included study characteristics, participant demographics, treatment characteristics, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Sixty-one works were included representing 19 countries. Most were uncontrolled studies (31%). Many participants were male (75%) and had unilateral amputations (90%) of varying levels, causes, and duration. Most works examined one treatment phase (92%), most often mirror therapy (84%). Few works (3%) reported three-phase intervention. Dosing was inconsistent across studies. The most measured outcome was pain intensity (95%).

CONCLUSION

Despite the success of three-phase graded motor imagery in other pain populations, phantom limb pain research focuses on mirror therapy, largely ignoring other phases. Participant demographics varied, making comparisons difficult. Future work should evaluate graded motor imagery effects and indicators of patient success. The represented countries indicate that graded motor imagery phases are implemented internationally, so future work could have a widespread impact.

Leveraging Motor Imagery Rehabilitation for Individuals with Disabilities: A Review

Motor imagery, an intricate cognitive procedure encompassing the mental simulation of motor actions, has surfaced as a potent strategy within the neuro-rehabilitation domain. It presents a non-invasive, economically viable method for facilitating individuals with disabilities in enhancing their motor functionality and regaining self-sufficiency. This manuscript delivers an exhaustive analysis of the significance of motor imagery in augmenting functional rehabilitation for individuals afflicted with physical impairments. It investigates the fundamental mechanisms governing motor imagery, its applications across diverse disability conditions, and the prospective advantages it renders. Moreover, this document addresses the prevailing obstacles and prospective trajectories in this sector, accentuating the necessity for continued investigation and the invention of cutting-edge technologies that optimize the potentiality of motor imagery in aiding disabled persons.