Effects of mental practices interventions under exteroceptive body awareness in post-stroke patients: systematic review.

Abstract

Purpose: In recent years, an importance increasing has been given to mental practices additional to motor practices in Stroke rehabilitation. Therefore, this systematic review aims to investigate the mental practices effects in different stroke phases on exteroceptive body awareness and functionality. Methods: five electronic portals were searched (PubMed, PEDRo, Science Direct, Web of Science), between January 2000 and July 2020. Selected studies involving mental practices additional to motor practices - conventional therapy, physical training, occupational therapy, motor task and daily activities. The methodological quality and findings evidence of each study were assessed and summarized. Results: twenty-one studies were selected for analysis. Several interventions used mental practices in stroke patient’s rehabilitation: Action observation (n = 7); Motor imagery (n = 11) and Body awareness therapy (n = 3). It seems that interventions with Action observation and Body awareness therapy have more effects in acute post-stroke patient’s functionality. However, Motor imagery intervention showed better results in chronic post-stroke patient’s functionality. All three interventions showed positive effects in exteroceptive body awareness. Conclusions: All interventions reported significant improvements in exteroceptive body awareness and functionality rehabilitation in post- stroke patients.