Ann Rehabil Med.  2015 Jun;39(3):401-408. 10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.401.

Effect of Motor Imagery on the F-Wave Parameters in Hemiparetic Stroke Survivors

• Naseri M
• Petramfar
• Ashraf A

• KMID: 2165643
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.401

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of motor imagery, as a rehabilitation method in stroke, on F-wave parameters that undergo changes during upper motor neuron involvement.
METHODS
Twenty-one fully conscious hemiparetic stroke survivors with a completely plegic hand (power 0/5) and a minimum interval of 72 hours since stroke were recruited into this study. The mean F-wave latency, amplitude, and persistence in the median and ulnar nerves were measured in both the affected and non-affected sides at rest and in the paretic hand during a mental task. Comparison was made between data from the affected hand and the non-affected hand as well as between data from the affected hand at baseline and during motor imagery.
RESULTS
Patients had significantly different F-wave persistence between the affected and non-affected sides (paired t-test, p<0.001). Motor imagery could improve F-wave persistence in both the investigated nerves (paired t-test, p=0.01 for ulnar nerve and p<0.001 for median nerve) and F-response amplitude in the median nerve (paired t-test, p=0.01) of the affected limb.
CONCLUSION
The amplitude and persistence of F-wave were improved during motor imagery, representing F-wave facilitation. This result suggests that motor imagery can restore motor neuron excitability, which is depressed after stroke.

Keyword

Stroke; Hemiplegia; Motor imagery; F-wave

MeSH Terms

Extremities
Hand
Hemiplegia
Humans
Median Nerve
Motor Neurons
Rehabilitation
Stroke*
Survivors*
Ulnar Nerve

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