The effect of motor imagery training on muscle activity, motor imagery and functional movement skills in individuals unilateral cerebral palsy

The aim of this study; to examine effect of motor imagery training on motor imagery ability, functional movement skills, lower limb muscle activity, functional muscle strength and quality of life in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. 34 Unilateral Cerebral Palsy and 17 typically developing individuals were included in study. Individuals Cerebral Palsy were randomly divided into 2 groups as motor imagery training (n=17) and Cerebral Palsy control group (n=17). 8 weeks, 2 sessions of physiotherapy and motor imagery training was applied to motor imagery training group, 8 weeks of physiotherapy training was applied to Cerebral Palsy control group. Evaluations made 3 times, before training, after training (8th week) and after training (14th week) for motor imagery and Cerebral Palsy control group. Typically developing individuals were evaluated once. Individuals evaluated with Gross Motor Function Classification System, Mini-Mental state exam, Modified Tardieu Scale, Pediatrics Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, Movement Imagery Questionnaire for Children, Timed up and go, 10 meter walk, 5 times sit to stand tests and delta times, Laterality task, motor imagery training entertainment and clarity scale, superficial EMG, and functional muscle strength. Motor imagery training; significant difference was found in favor of motor imagery group, in Movement Imagery Questionnaıre for Children, delta times, accuracy percentage of lateralization task, resting muscle activation and functional movement skills (p<0.05). No difference was found on quality of life, muscle tone and functional muscle strength (p>0.05). As a result, this current approach in unilateral Cerebral Palsy; it was found to be a feasible method and useful to include in rehabilitation process. Keywords: Cerebral Palsy, Motor Imagery, Superficial Electromyography