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. 2021 Jan 9;18(2):498.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020498.

Effectiveness of Motor Imagery on Motor Recovery in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Review

Ana Gil-Bermejo-Bernardez-Zerpa  1 , Jose A Moral-Munoz  1   2 , David Lucena-Anton  1 , Carlos Luque-Moreno  1
Affiliations

Effectiveness of Motor Imagery on Motor Recovery in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Review

Ana Gil-Bermejo-Bernardez-Zerpa et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The effects of motor imagery (MI) on functional recovery of patients with neurological pathologies, such as stroke, has been recently proven. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of MI on motor recovery and quality of life (QOL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). A search was carried out in the following scientific databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Science, up to November 2020. The grey literature and reference lists of potentially relevant articles were also searched. The Checklist for Measuring Quality and The Cochrane collaboration's tool were used to assess the methodological quality and risk of bias of the studies. Five studies were included in the systematic review. Findings showed that pwMS using MI had significant improvements in walking speed and distance, fatigue and QOL. In addition, several benefits were also found in dynamic balance and perceived walking ability. Although the evidence is limited, rehabilitation using MI with the application of musical and verbal guides (compared to non-intervention or other interventions), can produce benefits on gait, fatigue and QOL in pwMS with a low score in the Expanded Disability Status Scale.

Keywords: mental processes; motor imagery; multiple sclerosis; psychomotor performance; rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Information flowchart of the different phases of the systematic review.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias of the studies included in the systematic review.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Overall risk of bias. The results are presented by percentages.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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