Table 3.
Mean performance and ANCOVA analysis group differences on primary and secondary outcome measures, for the experimental ‘Motor Imagery Training’ treatment group, the ‘Attention-Placebo Control’ and the ‘Normal Care Control’ group
| Group | n | Baseline assessment | Outcome assessment | Between group difference |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | P-value |  |
||
| Upper limb impairment (ARAT) | |||||
| Motor Imagery Training | 39 | 25.64 (18.10) | 31.51 (20.68) | 0.77 | 0.005 |
| Attention-Placebo Control | 31 | 26.23 (17.92) | 32.87 (20.76) | ||
| Normal Care Control | 32 | 23.06 (17.66) | 30.38 (20.53) | ||
| Grip strength (force affected/unaffected hand, %) | |||||
| Motor Imagery Training | 39 | 32.64 (34.17) | 38.15 (36.07) | 0.60 | 0.000 |
| Attention-Placebo Control | 31 | 27.90 (29.95) | 34.55 (34.84) | ||
| Normal Care Control | 32 | 25.12 (27.97) | 34.32 (33.80) | ||
| Hand function (manual dexterity performance speed in s) | |||||
| Motor Imagery Training | 39 | 121.46 (53.32) | 104.44 (55.93) | 0.98 | 0.000 |
| Attention-Placebo Control | 31 | 109.30 (54.17) | 95.71 (57.59) | ||
| Normal Care Control | 32 | 124.02 (52.29) | 107.28 (56.20) | ||
| Activities of daily living level (Barthel Index) | |||||
| Motor Imagery Training | 39 | 13.08 (4.81) | 16.23 (4.13) | 0.38 | 0.019 |
| Attention-Placebo Control | 31 | 14.87 (4.33) | 16.84 (3.75) | ||
| Normal Care Control | 32 | 12.28 (5.41) | 14.87 (4.79) | ||
| Functional limitations profile | |||||
| Motor Imagery Training | 38 | 58.40 (15.02) | 50.28 (18.78) | 0.98 | 0.000 |
| Attention-Placebo Control | 31 | 64.16 (14.04) | 55.42 (15.81) | ||
| Normal Care Control | 31 | 62.50 (14.26) | 53.49 (18.68) | ||