Rehabilitación del miembro superior a través de la imagineria motora graduada y sistema de realidad virtual tras un ictus: un estudio piloto / Upper limb rehabilitation through graded motor imagery and virtual reality system after stroke: a pilot study

Objetivos: evaluar el efecto de una intervención combinada de Realidad Virtual e Imaginería Motora Graduada sobre la funcionalidad del miembro superior afecto en adultos con ictus en fase crónica. Métodos: un estudio piloto, cuasiexperimental, de un único grupo, en el que participaron 5 pacientes adultos con ictus en fase crónica durante 5 semanas, durante el cual recibieron tratamiento combinado de Realidad Virtual y de Imaginería motora graduada. La funcionalidad del miembro superior se evaluó con la escala Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motor Activity Log-30, Abilhand, Barthel, Asworth, Box and Blocks, Nine Hole Peg Test y medidas propias del dispositivo de Realidad Virtual y de la lateralidad. Resultados: la Realidad Virtual e Imaginería motora graduada mejoraron la funcionalidad del miembro superior, mejorando resultados en la lateralidad (p= 0,043) y la RV de la actividad no 2(p= 0,043), respectivamente, así como el cuestionario Motor Activity Log-30, en el que se obtuvo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la valoración inicial y final con una (p= 0,043). Conclusiones: la intervención combinada con RV e IMG parece mejorar la funcionalidad del miembro superior en adultos con ictus en fase crónica, pero sería necesario realizar estudios con un tamaño muestral mayor, para determinar la efectividad y las posibles mejorías de la funcionalidad de las extremidades al combinar la RV y la IMG.(AU)

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of a combined Virtual Reality and Graded Motor Imaging intervention on the functionality of the affected upper limb in adults with chronic stroke. Methods: A single- group, quasi-experimental, pilot study involving 5 adult patients with chronic stroke for 5 weeks, during which they received combined VR and IMG treatment. Upper limb functionality was assessed with the Fugl- Meyer Assessment, Motor Activity Log-30, Abilhand, Barthel, Asworth, Box and Blocks and Nine Hole Peg Test, as well as the tools from the VR and GMI devices. Results: VR and IMG improved the functionality of the upper limb, improving results in laterality (p= 0.043) and VR of activity no. 2 (p= 0.043), respectively, as well as the Motor Activity Log-30 questionnaire, in which statistically significant differences were obtained between the initial and final assessment with a (p= 0.043). Conclusions: Combined intervention with VR and IMG appears to improve upper limb function in adults with chronic stroke, but studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine the effectiveness and possible improvements in limb function when combining VR and IMG.(AU)

Motor Imagery and Mental Practice in the Subacute and Chronic Phases in Upper Limb Rehabilitation after Stroke: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Motor imagery and mental practice can be defined as a continuous mechanism in which the subject tries to emulate a movement using cognitive processes, without actually performing the motor action. The objective of this review was to analyse and check the efficacy of motor imagery and/or mental practice as a method of rehabilitating motor function in patients that have suffered a stroke, in both subacute and chronic phases. Material and Methods. We performed a bibliographic search from 2009 to 2021 in the following databases, Medline (PubMed), Scopus, WOS, Cochrane, and OTSeeker. The search focused on randomized clinical trials in which the main subject was rehabilitating motor function of the upper limb in individuals that had suffered a stroke in subacute or chronic phases. Results: We analysed a total of 11 randomized clinical trials, with moderate and high methodological quality according to the PEDro scale. Most of the studies on subacute and chronic stages obtained statistically significant short-term results, between pre- and postintervention, in recovering function of the upper limb. Conclusions: Motor imagery and/or mental practice, combined with conventional therapy and/or with other techniques, can be effective in the short term in recovering upper limb motor function in patients that have suffered a stroke. More studies are needed to analyse the efficacy of this intervention during medium- and long-term follow-up.