Effects of ankle strengthening exercises combined with motor imagery training on the timed up and go test score and weight bearing ratio in stroke patients

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of anklestrengthening exercises combined with motor imagery training and those of anklestrengthening exercises alone in stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty strokepatients were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: experimental group (15patients) and control group (15 patients). The experimental group underwent motor imagerytraining for 15 minutes and ankle joint strengthening exercises for 15 minutes, while thecontrol group underwent only ankle joint strengthening exercises for 30 minutes. Eachsession and training program was implemented four times a week for 4 weeks. The timed upand go (TUG) test score, affected-side weight bearing ratio, and affected-side front/rearweight bearing ratio were assessed. [Results] Both groups demonstrated improvement on theTUG test, and in the affected-side weight bearing ratios, affected-side front/rear weightbearing ratios, and balance errors. The experimental group demonstrated greaterimprovement than the control group in all variables. [Conclusion] Motor imagery trainingis an effective treatment method for improving static balance ability in strokepatients.Key words: Motor imagery training, Stroke, Balance