Evaluating Motor Imagery Capabilities in Fatigued Versus Non-Fatigued Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis Without Cognitive Impairment

Background: Motor imagery is adversely affected by various factors in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the impact of MS-related fatigue on motor imagery remains unclear. Our study aimed to compare motor imagery abilities between fatigued and non-fatigued individuals with MS without cognitive impairment. Methods: This study included 73 individuals with MS, with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores from 0 to 4.5. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on Fatigue Severity Scale scores: ≥4 for Fatigued Group and <4 for Non-fatigued Group. Assessment of motor imagery vividness was done through Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire-20 (KVIQ-20). The Box and Block Test (BBT) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) were employed for the temporal congruence component. Results: The mean ages of the Fatigued Group (30.4 ± 9.2 years) and the Non-fatigued Group (31.5 ± 9.8 years) were similar (P =.650). The fatigued Group exhibited significantly lower kinesthetic imagery scores on the KVIQ-20 (P =.028) and significantly lower performance in the BBT (upper extremities) mental chronometry test for both the most affected and least affected sides of the upper extremities (P =.007 and.028, respectively). Additionally, the Fatigued Group showed significantly lower performance in the TUG (lower extremities) mental chronometry test (P =.006). Conclusion: In fatigued individuals with MS, there is a greater impact on both temporal congruence components and kinesthetic motor imagery abilities. The difference in the temporal congruence component was observed in tests involving both TUG (lower extremities) and BBT (upper extremities), independent of the affected side.