Effectiveness of synchronous action observation and mental practice on upper extremity motor recovery after stroke.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group study was to examine the effect of group synchronous action observation/mental practice intervention compared to usual rehabilitation care on upper extremity motor recovery after stroke. The intervention group ( = 25) received usual care, consisting of a minimum of 3 hours of rehabilitation services per day, 5 days a week, plus group synchronous action observation/mental practice sessions 3 times per week and the control group ( = 26) received usual care. Outcome measures included the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire Short Version (KVIQ-10), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) of affected upper extremity motor function only and The Box and Block Test (BBT).