Abstract
[Purpose] We examined the effects of motor imagery on the sitting balance of 16 hemiplegic patients. [Subjects] The subjects were 6 persons in an intervention group and 10 persons in a non-intervention group. [Methods] All patients received pre- and post-training assessments on the 1st and 5th day. The intervention patients received motor imagery combined with repetitive task practice for 3 consecutive days, while the non-intervention group received no training other than the assessments. With the aid of visual and auditory information the intervention group were instructed to sit and perform imaging as if they flexed their trunk forward and bent their trunk laterally. After motor imagery, they were asked to perform the same repetitive task practice as motor imagery. Elevation and roll angles of the spinal process of L1 and sitting pressure were measured. These parameters were compared between pre- and post-training, and between the intervention and non-intervention groups using ANOVA. [Results] Sitting pressure on the affected side at rest was significantly increased after training, but during forward-flexion, the patients inclined more to the unaffected side, especially left hemiplegic patients. The angles of movement were significantly increased while bending laterally to the affected side. However, sitting pressure showed no significant increase on the affected side. [Conclusion] Short-term motor imagery with repetitive task practice had limited effect on the sitting balance of hemiplegic patients.
