EFFECTS OF MOTOR IMAGERY TECHNIQUE ON LOWER LIMB FUNCTION AMONG STROKE PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and most of the stroke survivors have limit their upper extremity functions. Motor imaginary technique is the innovative technique for engaging the brain areas either prior to or simultaneously with movement. Objective: To determine the effects of motor imagery technique on lower limb function. Methods: Randomized control trial was conducted, 20 post stroke patients included through non probability purposive sampling technique in Bibi Zahida Memorial Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, randomly allocated through sealed envelope method into control and experimental group. Conventional therapy for Control group while motor imagery plus conventional for experimental group performed 20 minutes motor imagery plus conventional therapy 3 times/week for 6 weeks, evaluation done at baseline, 2nd, 4th and 6thweek.Lower Extremity Function scale (LEFS), Modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and Time Up and Go test (TUG) and Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) utilized for assessment and analysed through SPSS 22 version. Results: This study showed that significant improvement after 6 weeks of intervention in LEFS in experimental group was p<0.007 while in control group was p<0.494. DGI in experimental group was p<0.001 while in control group was p=0.015. TUG in experimental group was p<0.001 while in control group was p=0.007. MAS in experimental group was p=0.002 while in control group was p=0.019. SSQOL in experimental group was p=0.027 while in control group was p=0.194. Conclusion: Motor imagery plus conventional therapy significant improvement in lower extremity function, gait, spasticity and quality of life in stroke patient’s compared conventional therapy in 6 weeks.

Keywords

• keywords: gait
• lower extremity function
• motor imagery
• quality of life