J Neurol Res

Journal of Neurology Research, ISSN 1923-2845 print, 1923-2853 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Neurol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.neurores.org

Original Article

Volume 11, Number 3-4, August 2021, pages 54-59

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

**Table 1.** Comparison of General Data of Patients in the Three Groups When Enrolled
	MIT group	LFPEST group	Combination therapy group
There was no significant difference among the three groups. MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy; SD: standard deviation.
Number of cases (n)	27	27	27
Gender (n)
Male	15	14	15
Female	12	13	12
Age, mean ± SD (years)	44.74 ± 9.25	45.48 ± 7.93	44.96 ± 8.32
Course, mean ± SD (days)	4.11 ± 2.08	3.67 ± 1.92	3.55 ± 1.89
Hemiplegia (n)
Left	11	13	12
Right	16	14	15

Table 1. Comparison of General Data of Patients in the Three Groups When Enrolled

MIT group

LFPEST group

Combination therapy group

There was no significant difference among the three groups. MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy; SD: standard deviation.

Number of cases (n)

Gender (n)

Male

Female

Age, mean ± SD (years)

44.74 ± 9.25

45.48 ± 7.93

44.96 ± 8.32

Course, mean ± SD (days)

4.11 ± 2.08

3.67 ± 1.92

3.55 ± 1.89

Hemiplegia (n)

Left

Right

**Table 2.** Comparison of FMA Scores of Right Upper Limb Function Among Three Groups Before and After Treatment
Group	Number of cases (n)	FMA score (mean ± SD)
The score after treatment of combined treatment group compared with that before treatment, P < 0.001; compared with LFPEST group, P < 0.001; compared with MIT group, P < 0.001. MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy; FMA: Fugl-Meyer assessment; SD: standard deviation.
MIT	27	18.29 ± 11.57	29.85 ± 12.41
LFPEST	27	17.96 ± 10.43	25.33 ± 11.29
Combined group	27	17.92 ± 9.36	32.18 ± 10.83

Table 2. Comparison of FMA Scores of Right Upper Limb Function Among Three Groups Before and After Treatment

Group

Number of cases (n)

FMA score (mean ± SD)

Before treatment

After treatment

The score after treatment of combined treatment group compared with that before treatment, P < 0.001; compared with LFPEST group, P < 0.001; compared with MIT group, P < 0.001. MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy; FMA: Fugl-Meyer assessment; SD: standard deviation.

MIT

18.29 ± 11.57

29.85 ± 12.41

LFPEST

17.96 ± 10.43

25.33 ± 11.29

Combined group

17.92 ± 9.36

32.18 ± 10.83

**Table 3.** Comparison of FTHUE Grading of Three Groups Before and After Treatment
Grading	MIT (n)	LFPEST (n)	Combined group (n)
FTHUE: functional test hemiplegic upper extremity; MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy;
1	8	0	10	0	11	0
2	9	3	9	5	7	2
3	6	9	5	9	5	8
4	3	5	2	4	3	9
5	1	6	1	5	1	6
6	0	3	0	3	0	3
7	0	1	0	1	0	2

Table 3. Comparison of FTHUE Grading of Three Groups Before and After Treatment

Grading

MIT (n)

LFPEST (n)

Combined group (n)

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

FTHUE: functional test hemiplegic upper extremity; MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy;

**Table 4.** Comparison of MBI Scores of Three Groups Before and After Treatment
Group	Number of cases (n)	MBI scores (mean ± SD)
The score after treatment of combined treatment group, compared with that before treatment, P < 0.001; compared with LFPEST group, P < 0.001; compared with MIT group, P < 0.001. MBI: modified Barthel Index; MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy; SD: standard deviation.
MIT	27	28.26 ± 8.52	49.63 ± 10.28
LFPEST	27	27.78 ± 7.96	45.29 ± 9.13
Combined group	27	27.59 ± 7.23	52.15 ± 8.89

Table 4. Comparison of MBI Scores of Three Groups Before and After Treatment

Group

Number of cases (n)

MBI scores (mean ± SD)

Before

After

The score after treatment of combined treatment group, compared with that before treatment, P < 0.001; compared with LFPEST group, P < 0.001; compared with MIT group, P < 0.001. MBI: modified Barthel Index; MIT: motor imagery therapy; LFPEST: low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation therapy; SD: standard deviation.

MIT

28.26 ± 8.52

49.63 ± 10.28

LFPEST

27.78 ± 7.96

45.29 ± 9.13

Combined group

27.59 ± 7.23

52.15 ± 8.89