Occupational Therapy Treatment Associated with Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) for the Recovery of Hand Function in Patients with Acquired Brain Injuries: Outcome Research

TL;DR

This study shows that combining Graded Motor Imagery with Occupational Therapy can improve hand function and daily tasks for people recovering from brain injuries.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel rehabilitative approach combining GMI and Occupational Therapy for ABI recovery.

Findings

Significant improvements in upper limb function and physical health were observed after the intervention.

Patients showed gains in hand function for writing and eating tasks.

The intervention was well-tolerated but had limited impact on pain or mental health.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined rehabilitative program integrating Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) and Occupational Therapy in improving upper limb function and autonomy in individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABIs), including stroke and traumatic brain injury. Methods: Twelve patients (mean age of 56.4 years) underwent a six-week intervention combining GMI and Occupational Therapy. Outcome measures included the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Numeric Rating Scale for pain (NRS), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found in upper limb function (DASH), occupational performance and satisfaction (COPM), and physical health status (SF-12 physical component). Specific gains in hand function—particularly in writing and eating—were detected using the JTHFT. No significant changes were observed in pain perception or mental health outcomes. Conclusions: The integration of GMI with Occupational Therapy appears to be a promising and well-tolerated intervention for enhancing motor function and daily life participation in individuals with ABI. Although the small sample limits generalizability, these preliminary findings support further investigation through larger, controlled studies.