Effect of Motor Imagery Training on Ataxic Children After Medulloblastoma Resection

Motor Imagery Training is an Effective Rehabilitation Program in Treatment of Children With Cerebellar Mutism

Background: after resection of medulloblastoma in children they suffer from signs and symptoms of ataxia which impedes their activities of daily living.

purpose: to investigate the effect motor imagery training on balance, severity of ataxia and gait parameters on children after resection of medulloblastoma.

Methods: Fifty children surfing from cerebellar ataxia after medulloblastoma resection were selected from tumors hospital of Cairo University, their age ranged from seven to nine years old, they were randomly assigned into two matched control and study groups. The control groups received the selected physical therapy program while, the study group received motor imaginary training in addition to the selected physical therapy program. Both groups were evaluated by ataxic rating scale, pediatric berg balance scale and kinematic gait analysis by kinovea software.

Motor imagery is an effective method to enhance motor performance applied in rehabilitation programs it did not impose a physical load on patients, was confirmed through clinical evidence from meta-analysis. Motor imagery means thinking in motor task with executing it to activate motor cortical areas as 25% of the brain neurons are mirror neurons and fire by thinking.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The children had signs of ataxia
• loss of balance
• able to understand and execute test instructions
• the children are in the follow up period after medulloblastoma resection.

Exclusion Criteria:

• medically unstable
• visual impairment
• increased intracranial pressure
• any other neuromuscular diseases.