Unilateral spatial neglect: new treatment approaches with potential application to occupational therapy

Unilateral spatial neglect is one of the most common symptoms of stroke. It has important implications for occupational therapy because of its clinical manifestations, which include problems with activities of daily living, mobility, and reading. This article reviews neurophysiological theories pertaining to unilateral spatial neglect and focuses on two new treatment approaches with potential application to occupational therapy practice. Both approaches--constraint-induced therapy and partial visual occlusion--involve a form of restraint of the less affected side. These approaches are discussed in the context of current neurophysiological theories and the application to occupational therapy treatment for neglect.