Can Ao,1 Lu Zhan2 

1Sports Department, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, The Sixth People’s Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400060, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Lu Zhan, Department of Neurology, The Sixth People’s Hospital of Chongqing, 301 Nancheng Avenue, Nan’an District, Chongqing, 400060, People’s Republic of China, Email zlxng20220302@163.com

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of motor imagery (MI) combined with whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy on elderly patients with post-stroke limb dysfunction.
Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study. Elderly stroke patients with limb dysfunction were divided into a control group (traditional rehabilitation training) and an observation group (MI combined with WBV therapy). Outcomes assessed included upper limb muscle strength/function, event-related potentials (P300), gait indicators, balance, and self-care ability before and after the intervention.
Results: There were a total of 139 patients, with 67 in the control group and 72 in the observation group. After intervention, the upper limb muscle strength and function, event-related potentials, gait indicators, balance ability, and self-care ability of both groups improved compared to before intervention, and the observation group was better than the control group.
Conclusion: The combination of MI and WBV therapy was superior to traditional rehabilitation alone in improving limb function, cognitive responses (P300), gait, balance, and self-care ability in elderly stroke patients.

Keywords: motor imagery, whole-body vibration, post-stroke limb dysfunction, elderly