Action observation and motor imagery for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and an integrative hypothesis

- Action observation therapy can be used for rehabilitation of Parkinson's disease.
- Motor imagery practice can be used for rehabilitation of Parkinson's disease.
- Rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease might combine action observation and motor imagery.
- Action observation and motor imagery involve both cortical and sub-cortical processes.

This article discusses recent evidence supporting the use of action observation therapy and motor imagery practice for rehabilitation of Parkinson's disease. A main question that emerges from the review regards the different effectiveness of these approaches and the possibility of integrating them into a single method to enhance motor behaviour in subjects with Parkinson's disease. In particular, the reviewed studies suggest that action observation therapy can have a positive effect on motor facilitation of patients and that a long-term rehabilitation program based on action observation therapy or motor imagery practice can bring some benefit on their motor recovery. Moreover, the paper discusses how the research on the combined use of action observation and motor imagery for motor improvements in healthy subjects may encourage the combined use of action observation therapy and motor imagery practice for therapeutic aims in Parkinson's disease. To date, this hypothesis has never been experimented.