Neurological disorders are now the leading cause of illnesses and disability worldwide. It causes immense suffering to affected individuals and families and deprives communities and economies of human capital. Motor imagery (MI) is a cognitive process that involves mentally simulating movement without actual physical execution. It has emerged as a promising rehabilitation technique for individuals with movement impairments caused by neurological disorders. This review evaluates the advantages and challenges of various MI-based techniques, including brain-computer interface (BCI), Exoskeleton and virtual reality (VR). All these methods offered innovative pathways for motor function restoration. The application of MI-based techniques in rehabilitating motor deficits are explored in this work. Additionally, this paper discusses the future development of MI-based technologies in motor rehabilitation, focusing on multidisciplinary collaboration, technical innovation in accuracy, and clinical applications. The results show that the integration among MI-based technologies holds promise for creating more effective and personalized rehabilitation protocols, ultimately improving patient outcomes in neurorehabilitation.
Zhang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.