After stroke, hand impairment is very common and its recovery is often incomplete. Early neuroplastic changes may form the basis for restitution of motor function after stroke. Neuroplasticity starts from day one immediately after injury or insult to cortex. Mental practice being one of the principles of motor learning can accelerate neuroplastic changes. Thus to compare the efficacy of mental practice and physical practice over only physical practice on hand function in individuals with stroke, this study was conducted. Methodology: 50 stroke patients divided into two groups i.e. control and experimental. Subjects were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Control group received conventional physiotherapy and experimental group received mental practice and conventional physiotherapy. Outcome measures: nine-hole peg test, voluntary control and motor assessment scale. Outcome measures were evaluated prior to the interventions and after 20 sessions of treatment. Results of the study: Significant difference was observed in both the groups pe and post intervention. The experimental group showed better improvement than conventional group. Conclusion: combination of mental practice and physical practice is more effective than physical practice for improvement of hand function.
