Preliminary Study on Effect of Motor Imagery Combined With Low-Frequency Pulsed Electrical Stimulation Therapy on Upper Limb Function of Young Stroke Patients

Background: To observe and explore the clinical effect of motor imagery therapy (MIT) combined with low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy (LFPEST) on improving upper limb function in young stroke patients. Methods: Eighty-one young stroke patients with hemiplegia were divided into MIT group, LFPEST group and combined treatment group. Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), functional test hemiplegic upper extremity (FTHUE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) were used to evaluate the upper limb function and activities of daily living before and 6 weeks after treatment. Results: After treatment, the FMA score, FTHUE grading and MBI score of the combined treatment group and the MIT group were significantly higher than those of the LFPEST group (P < 0.05), and the curative effect of the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of the MIT group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: MIT combined with LFPEST has more obvious curative effect than LFPEST and MIT, which can significantly improve the upper limb function, hand function and daily living ability of young stroke patients with hemiplegia. J Neurol Res. 2021;000(000):000-000 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr661