Motor imagery training improves balance and mobility in older adults who do not have a neurological condition .
These results suggest that motor imagery training could be an adjunct to st and ard physiotherapy care in older adults , although it is unclear whether or not the effects are clinical ly worthwhile .
QUESTION Does motor imagery training improve measures of balance , mobility and falls in older adults without a neurological condition ?
Can a single session of motor imagery promote motor learning of locomotion in older adults? A randomized controlled trial
Purpose To investigate the influence of a single session of locomotor-based motor imagery training on motor learning and physical performance . Patients and methods Thirty independent adults aged > 65 years took part in the r and omized controlled trial . The study was conducted within an exercise science laboratory . Participants were r and omly divided into three groups following baseline locomotor testing : motor imagery training , physical training , and control groups . The motor imagery training group completed 20 imagined repetitions of a locomotor task , the physical training group completed 20 physical repetitions of a locomotor task , and the control group spent 25 minutes playing mentally stimulating games on an iPad .  Imagined and physical performance times were measured for each training repetition . Gait speed ( preferred and fast ) , timed-up- and -go , gait variability and the time to complete an obstacle course were completed before and after the single training session . Results Motor learning occurred in both the motor imagery training and physical training groups . Motor imagery training led to refinements in motor planning result ing in imagined movements better matching the physically performed movement at the end of training . Motor imagery and physical training also promoted improvements in some locomotion outcomes as demonstrated by medium to large effect size improvements after training for fast gait speed and timed-up- and -go . There were no training effects on gait variability . Conclusion A single session of motor imagery training promoted motor learning of locomotion in independent older adults .  Motor imagery training of a specific locomotor task also had a positive transfer effect on related physical locomotor performance outcomes
Motor imagery training improves balance and mobility in older adults who do not have a neurological condition .
These results suggest that motor imagery training could be an adjunct to st and ard physiotherapy care in older adults , although it is unclear whether or not the effects are clinical ly worthwhile .
QUESTION Does motor imagery training improve measures of balance , mobility and falls in older adults without a neurological condition ?