AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE REHABILITATION AND MOTOR IMAGERY IN COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common lung disease worldwide and is progressively characterized by permanent airflow limitation. Exercise limitation, skeletal muscle dysfunction, cognitive dysfunctions can be seen in COPD. Motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) is a cognitive rehabilitation method. This method is not limited to studies on cognitive impairments. It has effects that can be measured in many physical results such as muscle strength increase, autonomic nervous system, and effects. From this point of view, exercise limitation in COPD patients is a type of rehabilitation that may have an effect on skeletal muscle dysfunction. This study aims to review the place of cognitive rehabilitation in COPD patients. Literature search was done in PUBMED database and related articles were reviewed. In the literature review, when "motor imagery" AND "pulmonary" is searched in PUBMED, only 4 studies are found between the years 1991-2024, 15 results are found in the search for "motor imagery" AND "respiratory" between the years 1991-2024. Searching for "motor imagery" AND "pulmonary disease" or "motor imagery" AND "respiratory disease" yields zero results. There is 1 congress paper publication in which "motor imagery" AND "pulmonary rehabilitation" and motor imagery in pulmonary rehabilitation are examined. As a result of our study, it was understood that there is a need for studies investigating the effects of motor imagery and action observation methods, which are cognitive rehabilitation methods and have the potential to affect not only cognitive functions but also physical functions, in COPD patients.