The effect of motor imagery training on individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy on motor imagery ability, functional mobility and muscle activity

Abstract

Aim

This study aims to examine the effect of motor imagery (MI) training on MI abilities, functional mobility, and lower extremity muscle activity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP).

Method

34 UCP and 17 typically developing participants were included. UCP was randomised into 2 groups as UCP MI and UCP control. Participants typically developing were included for baseline comparisons. UCP MI group received 8 weeks of physiotherapy and MI training, the UCP control group 8 weeks of physiotherapy training. The MI abilities, functional mobility, and lower extremity muscle activation were assessed in all groups.

Results

It was found that MI training made a significant difference in favour of the UCP MI group in terms of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-For Children (MIQ-C), mental chronometry, functional mobility, and resting muscle activation (p < 0.05). There was no such significant change in the UCP control group.

Conclusion

This current approach in UCP is a feasible method, beneficial to include it in the rehabilitation process.

Keywords:

• Cerebral palsy
• motor imagery
• functional mobility

Acknowledgements

We thank all the participants of this study, and Merve Başoğlu for her time and valuable contribution.

Author contributions

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article. Compliance with ethical standards.