Impact of mental practice training on balance and trunk endurance in children with hemiparesis: A randomized controlled trial

Children with hemiparesis experience poor balance due to a combination of underdeveloped neural motor control mechanisms and secondary musculoskeletal issues, which lead to atypical body posture. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the impact of mental practice (MP) training on balance and trunk endurance in children with hemiparesis. Forty hemiparetic children (16 boys and 24 girls), aged 7 to 10 years, were randomly assigned to two groups of equal size (20 children per group): control group (Group A) and study group (Group B). The study was conducted at the outpatient clinic of the Pediatric Physical Therapy Department at Mansoura International Hospital and Mansoura Specialized Hospital. Participants were assessed for balance and trunk muscle endurance at baseline and after 3 months of intervention using the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance (mCTSIB) and trunk endurance tests, respectively. Both groups received the same selected physical therapy program, with Group B additionally receiving MP training three times per week for three months. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 28) was used to conduct all of the statistical analyses. Significant differences were observed between the two groups post-treatment regarding mCTSIB scores and trunk endurance tests, favoring the study group (p < 0.05). MP training emerges as a promising intervention to enhance balance and trunk endurance in children with hemiparesis. Healthcare professionals and therapists working with these children should consider integrating the MP program as a valuable component of their therapeutic strategies.