Motor imagery and stroke rehabilitation: a critical discussion.

Full Abstract

Motor disorders are a frequent consequence of stroke and much effort is invested in the re-acquisition of motor control. Although patients often regain some of their lost function after therapy, most remain chronically disabled. Functional recovery is achieved largely through reorganization processes in the damaged brain. Neural reorganization depends on the information provided by sensorimotor efferent-afferent feedback loops. It has, however, been shown that the motor system can also be activated "offline" by imagining (motor imagery) or observing movements. The discovery of mirror neurones, which fire not only when an action is executed, but also when one observes another person performing the same action, also show that our action system can be used "online" as well as offline. It is an intriguing question as to whether the information provided by motor imagery or motor observation can lead to functional recovery and plastic changes in patients after stroke. This article reviews the evidence for motor imagery or observation as novel methods in stroke rehabilitation.

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Author information

Author/s: de Vries, Sjoerd (S); Mulder, Theo (T);

Affiliation: Centre for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. s.j.de.vries(-atsign-)rug.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Journal of rehabilitation medicine : official journal of the UEMS European Board of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (J Rehabil Med), published in Sweden. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 39 (issue 1) : pp 5-13

Dates: Created 2007/01/16; Completed 2007/03/19; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 17225031, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Cognition - physiology
Evidence-Based Medicine
Humans
Imagination - physiology
Motor Cortex - physiology

Motor Skills - physiology
Neurons - physiology
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Questionnaires
Stroke - physiopathology; psychology; rehabilitation

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