International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-9096
ISSN: 2329-9096
Klaus Starrost
Germany
Research Article
“Video Therapy”: Promoting Hand Function after Stroke by Action Observation Training – a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Author(s): Christian Dettmers, Violetta Nedelko, Thomas Hassa, Klaus Starrost and Mircea Ariel SchoenfeldChristian Dettmers, Violetta Nedelko, Thomas Hassa, Klaus Starrost and Mircea Ariel Schoenfeld
Background: Action observation improves excitability of the primary motor cortex and the encoding of motor engrams as well as motor-learning. Objective: The intention of our pilot-study was to evaluate the feasibility of a six weeks home-based action observation training (video therapy) in stroke patients. Methods: 56 patients (age 58 ± 13; time since onset 40 ± 82 months; NIHSS 3.5 ± 1.8) with a hand paresis following stroke were recruited from two rehabilitation clinics. Before discharge from the clinic the intervention group received a DVD displaying ten object-related motor tasks of varying difficulty, each lasting five minutes. Patients were requested to imitate the motor tasks one hour daily for six weeks (“video group”). A control group performed the same tasks with written instructions without observation/imitation (“text group”). A.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2329-9096.1000189