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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Compensatory Limb Use and Behavioral Assessment of Motor Skill Learning Following Sensorimotor Cortex Injury in a Mouse Model of Ischemic Stroke
Published on: July 10, 2014
Cognitive strategy use to enhance motor skill acquisition post-stroke: a critical review
Sara E McEwen1, Maria P J Huijbregts, Jennifer D Ryan
1Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. sara.mcewen@utoronto.ca
Objective:
The objective of this critical review was to examine the literature regarding the use of cognitive strategies to acquire motor skills in people who have had a stroke, to determine which strategies are in use and to compile evidence of their effectiveness. SEARCH TERMS: A computerized search of a range of databases was conducted using the following search terms: stroke, cerebrovascular accident; combined with strategy training, learning strateg*, cognitive strateg*, metacognitive strateg*, goal setting, goal planning, goal attainment, goal direct*, goal orient*, self talk, imagery, mental practice, self evaluat*, ready*, attentional focus*, problem solv*, goal management; combined with motor, mobility, activit*, skill, task, function, ADL.
Results:
Twenty-six articles were reviewed. Seven studies investigated general cognitive strategies and 19 investigated task-specific strategies. The most commonly studied task-specific strategy was motor imagery. Findings suggest that general strategy training improves performance in both trained and untrained activities compared to traditional therapy; and that a specific motor imagery protocol can improve mobility and recovery in the affected upper extremity in people living with the chronic effects of stroke.
Conclusion:
This foundational evidence supports the further development of novel cognitive strategy-based interventions with the intention of improving long-term stroke outcomes.
