Effect of motor imagery combined with physical practice on upper limb rehabilitation in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

INTRODUCTION: Evidence indicates that motor deficits in hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) impair both motor execution and planning. However, current rehabilitation efforts focus mainly on relieving impairments in motor execution. Motor imagery (MI) is a promising method for stimulating neural networks underlying the planning and control of movements. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effectiveness of MI combined with physical practice in improving the function of the upper limbs in children with HCP. METHOD: Twenty-four participants, aged 7-14 years were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). The IG was subjected to MI training and physical practice twice a week for eight consecutive weeks, while the CG received conventional therapy. Participants were assessed with the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow up. RESULTS: The results showed improved motor functions in both groups. Analysis using the general linear model (analysis of covariance) and Bonferroni post hoc tests showed significant improvements from pre-intervention to post-intervention in the AHA for the IG. The CG showed non-significant improvement in AHA scores. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the MI training, combined with the physical practice program used in this study, was effective in improving upper limb function in children with HCP.