OBJECTIVE: To determine whether motor imagery during the immobilization period after flexor tendon injury results in a faster recovery of central mechanisms of hand function. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=28) after surgical flexor tendon repair were assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. INTERVENTION: Kinesthetic motor imagery of finger flexion movements during the postoperative dynamic splinting period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The central aspects of hand function were measured with a preparation time test of finger flexion in which subjects pressed buttons as fast as possible following a visual stimulus. Additionally, the following hand function modalities were recorded: Michigan Hand Questionnaire, visual analog scale for hand function, kinematic analysis of drawing, active total motion, and strength. RESULTS: After the immobilization period, the motor imagery group demonstrated significantly less increase of preparation time than the control group (P=.024). There was no significant influence of motor imagery on the other tested hand function (P>.05). All tests except kinematic analysis (P=.570) showed a significant improvement across time after the splinting period (P</=.001). CONCLUSIONS:Motor imagery significantly improves central aspects of hand function, namely movement preparation time, while other modalities of hand function appear to be unaffected.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether motor imagery during the immobilization period after flexor tendon injury results in a faster recovery of central mechanisms of hand function. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=28) after surgical flexor tendon repair were assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. INTERVENTION: Kinesthetic motor imagery of finger flexion movements during the postoperative dynamic splinting period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The central aspects of hand function were measured with a preparation time test of finger flexion in which subjects pressed buttons as fast as possible following a visual stimulus. Additionally, the following hand function modalities were recorded: Michigan Hand Questionnaire, visual analog scale for hand function, kinematic analysis of drawing, active total motion, and strength. RESULTS: After the immobilization period, the motor imagery group demonstrated significantly less increase of preparation time than the control group (P=.024). There was no significant influence of motor imagery on the other tested hand function (P>.05). All tests except kinematic analysis (P=.570) showed a significant improvement across time after the splinting period (P</=.001). CONCLUSIONS: Motor imagery significantly improves central aspects of hand function, namely movement preparation time, while other modalities of hand function appear to be unaffected.
Authors: Marco Tofani; Luigino Santecchia; Antonella Conte; Anna Berardi; Giovanni Galeoto; Carla Sogos; Maurizio Petrarca; Francescaroberta Panuccio; Enrico Castelli Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-02 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: L Zapparoli; P Invernizzi; M Gandola; M Verardi; M Berlingeri; M Sberna; A De Santis; A Zerbi; G Banfi; G Bottini; E Paulesu Journal: Exp Brain Res Date: 2012-11-25 Impact factor: 1.972
Authors: Martina Gandola; Laura Zapparoli; Gianluca Saetta; Antonio De Santis; Alberto Zerbi; Giuseppe Banfi; Valerio Sansone; Maurilio Bruno; Eraldo Paulesu Journal: Neuroimage Clin Date: 2019-04-25 Impact factor: 4.881