The Effects of Motor Imagery on Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis in Women During the Post-Surgical Immobilization Period: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis is the second most frequent degenerative hand disease, and it presents in 66% of women over the age of 55. Post-surgery immobilization results in functional losses that could be attenuated by motor imagery training. <b>Objectives</b>: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of motor imagery training during the post-surgical immobilization period in women who underwent surgery for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. <b>Methods</b>: A randomized controlled trial was performed. A total of 40 patients satisfied the eligibility criteria, agreed to participate, and were randomized into an experimental group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). Motor imagery was applied to the experimental group during the 3 weeks of post-surgical immobilization and to the control group with the conventional protocol. Measurement outcomes were assessed four times throughout the study using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, the Cochin Hand Function Scale questionnaire, the Visual Analogue Scale, goniometry, a baseline pinch gauge, circumferential measurement, and the modified Kapandji Index. <b>Results</b>: There were significant improvements in the motor imagery group compared with the control group in post-motor imagery, pre- and post-rehabilitation measurements, functional pain (<i>p</i> < 0.001), rest pain (<i>p</i> < 0.01), hand mobility (<i>p</i> < 0.001), range of motion (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and wrist edema (<i>p</i> < 0.04); there were also improvements in pre- and post-rehabilitation measurements, quality of life in relation to upper limb function problems (<i>p</i> < 0.04), the post-rehabilitation measurement of hand functionality (<i>p</i> = 0.02), and post-motor imaging in finger-to-finger pinch strength. There were no statistically significant differences in the rest of the variables. <b>Conclusions</b>: Early intervention with motor imagery could be effective for resting and functional pain, quality of life in relation to upper limb problems, functional capacity, mobility, range of motion, strength, and edema.