Mental practice in the upper extremity rehabilitation after stroke – clinical cases

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke has a high mortality rate and its evolution often implies some dependence degree. The mental practice is based on imagination to promote learning of motor skills. Objectives: To produce a mental practice protocol using the mirror agreed with exercise and investigate its effects on functional recovery compared with the isolated kinesiotherapy. Methods: Participated four stroke patients in acute phase, with hemiplegic or hemiparetic motor sequels. Two subjects performed the mirror therapy associated with kinesiotherapy and the other two subjects performed only the kinesiotherapy. Results: It was possible to observe bilateral increment in patients, suggesting that the combined therapy of imagery and mental practice may represent an interesting strategy to acquiring motor skills. Conclusion: The motor improvement associated with the mirror was only observed in paretic patients suggesting the need for further studies in plegic patients.