Maxillofacial Rehabilitation Using Motor Imagery vs Sham After Orthognathic Surgery

Fifty individuals who have undergone orthognathic surgery of the mandible alone or concurrently with the maxilla will be randomly assigned to the experimental group, which involves practicing motor imagery in addition to a self-rehabilitation program and physiotherapy. Patients will be guided to visualize three sets of jaw movements three times a day. Adherence to the program will be monitored by the physiotherapist. The program has been standardized across all participating centers as the study is multicentric.

Fifty individuals who have undergone orthognathic surgery of the mandible alone or concurrently with the maxilla will be randomly assigned to the control group, which involves practicing a control task (completion of Sudoku or crossword puzzles) in addition to a self-rehabilitation program and physiotherapy. Patients will be instructed to engage in the task for approximately 10 minutes per day, equivalent to the duration of motor imagery practice in the group 1. Adherence to the program will be monitored by the physiotherapist. The program has been standardized across all participating centers, as the study is multicentric.