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Motor Imagery in Post-Stroke Dysphagia
Sponsor: Ankara Etlik City Hospital
Summary
This study evaluated the effects of motor imagery added to conventional swallowing rehabilitation in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Dysphagia, or swallowing difficulty, is a common problem after stroke and may increase the risk of aspiration, pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and reduced quality of life. Participants with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly assigned to one of three groups: video-assisted motor imagery, motor imagery alone, or control. All participants received conventional swallowing rehabilitation. In addition, the video-assisted motor imagery group watched videos showing swallowing-related actions and then mentally imagined the observed movement. The motor imagery alone group performed mental imagery of swallowing without visual stimulation. The control group received only conventional swallowing rehabilitation. The intervention period lasted 4 weeks, with sessions performed twice weekly. Swallowing function was assessed before and after treatment using the Gugging Swallowing Screen, the Penetration-Aspiration Scale based on videofluoroscopic swallowing study, and the Stroke Impact Scale. The aim of the study was to determine whether motor imagery, especially when supported by video observation, provides additional benefit for swallowing recovery in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.
Official title: The Effect of Motor Imagery on Swallowing Functions in Patients With Post-Stroke Dysphagia: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
43
Start Date
2025-07-01
Completion Date
2026-05-31
Last Updated
2026-06-24
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Video-Assisted Motor Imagery
Participants watched videos showing swallowing-related actions and then performed motor imagery by mentally simulating the observed swallowing movement. This intervention was added to conventional dysphagia rehabilitation.
Motor Imagery Training
Participants performed mental imagery of swallowing without visual stimulation. This intervention was added to conventional dysphagia rehabilitation.
Conventional Dysphagia Rehabilitation
Conventional dysphagia rehabilitation included standard swallowing therapy approaches used in clinical practice, such as swallowing exercises, compensatory strategies, postural adjustments, and diet or consistency modifications when appropriate.
Locations (1)
Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic
Ankara, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)