Is mental practice effective for treating upper extremity deficits in individuals with hemiparesis after stroke? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary

BACKGROUND: Mental practice, which is proposed for the rehabilitation of people post-stroke, is a training method based on the repetition of the internal representation of a movement or a task with the aim of improving the performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this commentary is to discuss Cochrane evidence on the efficacy of mental practice in improving upper extremity functioning in people with hemiparesis after stroke. METHODS: To summarize and discuss from a rehabilitation perspective the published Cochrane Review "Mental practice for treating upper extremity deficits in individuals with hemiparesis after stroke" by Barclay et al. RESULTS: This Cochrane Review included 25 studies involving 676 people with hemiparesis after stroke. The authors analysed the following two comparisons: mental practice versus conventional therapy and mental practice in addition to other treatment versus other treatment (+/- placebo). CONCLUSIONS: Mental practice in addition to other treatment, compared with other treatment, probably improves upper extremity activity and function in people with hemiparesis after stroke.