Investigation of the relationship between motor imaginary ability and dual-task ability in chronic stroke patients

Year 2025, Volume: 38 Issue: 2, 135 - 140, 30.05.2025

Tuba Maden , Ece Bedir Demet Gözaçan Karabulut

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.1708734

https://izlik.org/JA28MP49KC

Abstract

Objective: Motor imagery ability increases motor performance by increasing neural activity and stimulating brain plasticity. The dualtask
can be an indicator of the transfer of motor performance. This study investigated the relationship between imagery ability and
dual-task ability in chronic stroke patients.
Patients and Methods: The Motor Imagery Questionnaire-Revised Second Edition was used to assess imagery ability. The Timed
Up and Go test was determined as the main task, and a dual-task test was performed by adding a cognitive and motor task. Mental
chronometry recorded single – and dual-task performances as actual and imagined. Dual-task cost and delta scores were calculated
for motor-motor and cognitive-motor separately.
Results: There was a moderate correlation between motor imagery ability and motor dual-task performance (p<0.05). No correlation
was found between cognitive dual-task performance and motor imagery ability (p>0.05). The individuals’ motor-motor tasks had low
performance in the actual and imagined tasks but not in the cognitive-motor tasks (p>0.05).
Conclusion: As mental practice increases, patients’ motor-motor dual-task abilities also increase. Mental practice can be recommended
from the early stages of stroke patients to increase motor imagery ability and motor skills. Cognitive-motor dual-task and motor
imagery ability are unrelated because of abundant repetition of the cognitive-motor dual task in the nature of daily living activities.

Keywords

Stroke , Motor imagery , Dual task , Mental practice , Stroke rehabilitation

References

• Monteiro KB, dos Santos Cardoso M, da Costa Cabral VR, et al. Effects of motor imagery as a complementary resource on the rehabilitation of stroke patients: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021;30:105876. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.105876.
• Carey L, Walsh A, Adikari A, et al. Finding the ıntersection of neuroplasticity, stroke recovery, and learning: Scope and contributions to stroke rehabilitation. Neural Plast 2019;2019:5232374. doi: 10.1155/2019/5232374.
• Brodziak A, Brewczyński A, Bajor G. Clinical significance of knowledge about the structure, function, and impairments of working memory. Med Sci Monit 2013;19:327-38. doi: 10.12659/MSM.883900.
• Chiaramonte R, Bonfiglio M, Leonforte P, Coltraro G, Guerrera C, Vecchio M. Proprioceptive and dual-task training: The key of stroke rehabilitation, A Systematic Review. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2022;7:53. doi: 10.3390/jfmk7030053.
• Khan MA, Das R, Iversen HK, Puthusserypady S. Review on motor imagery based BCI systems for upper limb poststroke neurorehabilitation: From designing to application. Comput Biol Med 2020;123:103843. doi: 10.1016/j. compbiomed.2020.103843
• López ND, Monge Pereira E, Centeno EJ, Miangolarra J. Motor imagery as a complementary technique for functional recovery after stroke: a systematic review. Top Stroke Rehabil 2019;26:576-87. doi: 10.1080/10749.357.2019.1648353.
• Zhang K, Wang H, Wang X, et al. Neuroimaging prognostic factors for treatment response to motor imagery training after stroke. Cereb Cortex 2023;33:9504-13. doi: 10.1093/cercor/ bhad220.
• Zhou Q, Yang H, Zhou Q, Pan H. Effects of cognitive motor dual-task training on stroke patients: A RCT-based metaanalysis. J Clin Neurosci 2021;92:175-82. doi: 10.1016/j. jocn.2021.08.031.
• Kolbaşı EN, Ersoz Huseyinsinoglu B, Erdoğan HA, Çabalar M, Bulut N, Yayla V. What are the determinants of explicit and implicit motor imagery ability in stroke patients?: a controlled study. Somatosens Mot Res 2020;37:84-91. doi: 10.1080/08990.220.2020.1731611.
• Mishra NJIJOT. Comparison of effects of motor imagery, cognitive and motor dual task training methods on gait and balance of stroke survivors. Indian J Occup Ther 2015;47:46- 51. doi: 10.4103/ijoth.ijoth_15_20.
• Alghadir AH, Al-Eisa ES, Anwer S, Sarkar B. Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of three scales for measuring balance in patients with chronic stroke. BMC Neurology 2018;18:1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12883.018.1146-9.
• Butler AJ, Cazeaux J, Fidler A, et al. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised, Second Edition (MIQ-RS) is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating motor imagery in stroke populations. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:497289. doi: 10.1155/2012/497289.
• Dilek B, Ayhan Ç, Yakut Y. Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3: Its cultural adaptation and psychometric properties. Neurol Sci Neurophysiol 2020;37:224-27. doi: 10.4103/NSN.NSN_30_20.
• Sertel M, Sakızlı E, Bezgin S, Demirci C, Şahan T, Kurtoğlu F. The effect of single-tasks and dual-tasks on balance in older adults. Cogent Social Sciences 2017;3:1330913. doi: 10.1080/23311.886.2017.1330913.
• Bridenbaugh SA, Beauchet O, Annweiler C, Allali G, Herrmann F, Kressig R. Association between dual task-related decrease in walking speed and real versus imagined Timed Up and Go test performance. Aging Clin Exp Res 2013;25:283-9. doi: 10.1007/s40520.013.0025-3.
• Oostra KM, Oomen A, Vanderstraeten G, Vingerhoets G. Influence of motor imagery training on gait rehabilitation in sub-acute stroke: A randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med 2014;47:204-9. doi: 10.2340/16501.977.1903.
• Podda J, Pedullà L, Monti Bragadin M, et al. Spatial constraints and cognitive fatigue affect motor imagery of walking in people with multiple sclerosis. Sci Rep 2020;10:21938. doi: 10.1038/s41598.020.78931-0.
• Ietswaart M, Johnston M, Dijkerman HC, et al. Mental practice with motor imagery in stroke recovery: randomized controlled trial of efficacy. Brain 2011;134:1373-86. doi: [10.1093/brain.
• Sakurada T, Nakajima T, Morita M. Improved motor performance in patients with acute stroke using the optimal individual attentional strategy. Sci Rep 2017;7:40592. doi: 10.1038/srep40592.
• Fritz NE, Cheek FM, Nichols-Larsen DS. Motor-Cognitive Dual-Task Training in Persons With Neurologic Disorders: A Systematic Review. J Neurol Phys Ther 2015; 39:142-53. doi: 10.1097/NPT.000.000.0000000090.
• Yang Z-Q, Wei M-F, Chen L, Xi N. Research progress in the application of motor-cognitive dual-task training in rehabilitation of walking function in stroke patients. J Neurorestoratology 2023;11:100028. doi: 10.1016/j. jnrt.2022.100028.
• Al-Yahya E, Dawes H, Smith L, Dennis A, Howells K, Cockburn J. Cognitive motor interference while walking: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2011;35:15-728. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.08.008
• Fadle Es, Abeer Ae, Rasha M. Does mental imagery training affect cognitive functions in patients with stroke? Med J Cairo Univ 2021;89:2873-9. doi: 10.21608/mjcu.2021.225203.
• Silsupadol P, Shumway-Cook A, Lugade V, et al. Effects of single-task versus dual-task training on balance performance in older adults: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehab 2009;90:381-7. doi: 10.1016/j. apmr.2008.09.559.
• Hyndman D, Ashburn A, Yardley L, E Stack. Interference between balance, gait and cognitive task performance among people with stroke living in the community. Dis Rehab 2006;28:849-56. doi: 10.1080/096.382.80500534994.