Skip to main content

Table 1 Characteristics of included studies about the effects of MI on functional recovery following the TKA

From: Effectiveness of motor imagery for improving functional performance after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Study

Country

Total number of participants

Age range

Intervention group

Control group

Experimental period

Type of intervention

Imagine content

Imagine dosage

Physical therapy dosage

Type of intervention

Control content

Control dosage

Physical therapy dosage

Paravlic et al. [24]

Italy and UK

13 for Intervention group;

13 for Control group

50–85 years;

Intervention group (61.69 ± 5.19),

Control group (58.85 ± 5.24)

Physical therapy with MI

Imagine MviC

13 min 40 s for the first 2 weeks;

16 min for the following 2 weeks

The therapy time was not be calculated, the treatment lasted for 4 weeks

Physical therapy

The therapy time was not be calculated,

the treatment lasted for 4 weeks

Hospitalization period and home-based intervention

Briones-Cantero et al. [23]

Spain

12 for Intervention group;

12 for Control group

60–85 years;

Intervention group (73 ± 5),

Control group (72 ± 6)

Physical therapy with MI

Imagine performing the exercise

The imagine time was not be calculated, the treatment lasted for 5 days

30 min * 5 days

Physical therapy

30 min * 5 days

Hospitalization period

Paravlic et al. [28]

Slovenia

13 for Intervention group;

13 for Control group

50–85 years;

Intervention group (62.2 ± 4.9),

Control group (60.0 ± 5.7)

Physical therapy with MI

Imagine MviC

13 min 40 s for the first 2 weeks;

16 min for the following 2 weeks

The therapy time was not be calculated, the treatment lasted for 4 weeks

Physical therapy

The therapy time was not be calculated, the treatment lasted for 4 weeks

Hospitalization period and home-based intervention

Moukarzel et al. [27]

France

12 for Intervention group;

12 for Control group

65–75 years;

Mean age (70 ± 2.89)

Physical therapy with MI

Imagine consecutive extension/flexion of the knee, walking for 5 steps with the focus on maximum knee flexion during the swing phase, performing the TUG test

15 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

45 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

Physical therapy with placebo treatment

Explicit world-news discussion

15 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

45 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

Outpatient treatment

Moukarzel et al. [26]

France and Lebanon

10 for Intervention group;

10 for Control group

65–75 years;

Mean age (69.60 ± 3.25)

Physical therapy with MI

Imagine knee flexion and extension

15 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

45 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

Physical therapy with placebo treatment

Free discussion

15 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

45 min * 3 days/week * 4 weeks

Hospital and outpatient treatment

Zapparoli et al. [25]

Italy

24 for Intervention group;

24 for Control group

45–80 years;

Intervention group (66.2 ± 8.0),

Control group (66.6 ± 7.5)

Physical therapy with MI

Imagine standing and gait, knee flexion and extension; Imagine imitating the actor to walk and stand

30 min * twice a day * 11 days

70 min/day * 6 days/week * 11 days

Physical therapy with placebo treatment

Non-motoric cognitive

functions training (visual memory tasks, words recall tests et al.)

30 min * twice a day * 11 days

70 min/day * 6 days/week * 11 days

Hospitalization period

  1. TKA: Total knee arthroplasty; MI: motor imagery; MviC: maximal voluntary isometric contraction; TUG: time up and go test