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Action Observation Training for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Stroke Rehabilitation
Interventions
Device: Action observation training
Registration Number
NCT04622189
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital of Ferrara
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the changes in physiological parameters and clinical scales resulting from treatment with AOT (action observation training) in subjects with subacute stroke. Furthermore, this study assess the perception of applicability and satisfaction degree for this kind of treatments.

Detailed Description

After being informed about the study, all patients give written informed consent and will undergo a 1-week screening period to determine eligibility for study entry. Patient who meet the eligibility requirements will be given clinical and instrumental assessments before the start of treatment (T0) after 3 weeks (T1), at the end of the treatment (T2) and after 6 months (T3). A training program of 4 weeks including 250 videos of every day actions has been developed. Videos includes transitive and intransitive actions. Each week has a five day program, each day is divided in three sessions, in each session there are observation and imitation and attentional questions. AOT is always performed in conjunction with the conventional rehabilitation program.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • Should had experienced first ever ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke
  • Fugl-Meyer Assessment < 55
  • normal or corrected to normal visual acuity
Exclusion Criteria
  • presence of severe neuropsychological disorders
  • medical conditions likely to interfere with the ability to safely complete the study protocol
  • pain in the upper limb assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)> 7
  • intracranial metal implants
  • history of seizures or epilepsy
  • severe cardiopulmonary, renal, and hepatic diseases
  • pregnancy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Action observation training for the upper limb rehabilitationAction observation trainingNeurorehabilitation training for the upper limb using AOT consists of watching videos related to every day actions. The subjects will be asked to reproduce, as accurately as possible, the actions proposed by the system, that will record their execution. In order to keep high motivation and participation in activities, simple games of skill will also be created that will involve the patient on both the motor and cognitive side. The training program includes 250 videos of every day transitive and intransitive actions: 20 consecutive sessions of 1 hour, five times a week over four weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Motion Capture (MOCAP) recordingsUp to 1 month

Kinematic data of trunk and affected hand will be recorded during subject imitations and will be analysed to assess any improvements.

Change in Oxford Cognitive Screen between two time pointsBaseline and week 4

is a stroke-specific cognitive screen

Change in Box and Block Test between four time pointsBaseline, week 3, week 4,after 6 months

To assess unilateral gross manual dexterity

Change in Modified Ashworth Scale between four time pointsBaseline, week 3, week 4,after 6 months

To measure spasticity. It consists of a 5-point nominal scale using subjective clinical assessments of tone ranging from 0 - 'No increases in tone' to 4 - 'Limb rigid in flexion or extension \[abduction/adduction\]'. An additional grade is added (1+) for the MAS to indicate resistance in the movement.

Electroencephalography power in alpha bandUp to 1 month

EEG data will be recorded to test presence of particular changes in brain activity in during AOT training. In particular plasticity and mu rhythm desynchronization will be investigated.

Change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity between four time pointsBaseline, week 3, week 4, after 6 months

Scale that assess the sensorimotor impairment in individuals who have had stroke.

Change in Barthel Index between four time pointsBaseline, week 3, week 4,after 6 months

Scale that measures disability or dependence in activities of daily living in stroke patients.

Change in Visual Analogue Scale between four time pointsBaseline , week 3, week 4,after 6 months

Scale that consists of a straight line with the endpoints defining extreme limits such as 'no pain at all' and 'pain as bad as it could be'. The length of the line is 10-cm. Measurements from the starting point (left end) of the scale to the patients' marks are recorded in centimeters and are interpreted as their pain.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Applicability perception and satisfaction degree of the proposed treatmentAt week 4

self-report questionnaire using a 5 point Likert scale (1 - Strongly disagree; 5 - Strongly agree). Higher score indicates greater satisfaction with the treatment.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Sofia Straudi

🇮🇹

Ferrara, Emilia Romagna, Italy

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