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Published on: August 9, 2024
Improving upper limb motor functions through action observation treatment: a pilot study in children with cerebral
Giovanni Buccino1, Daniele Arisi, Patricia Gough
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy. buccino@unicz.it
Insights
Action observation treatment significantly improved upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This therapy is a valuable addition to CP rehabilitation programs, enhancing motor skills through guided imitation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in children.
- Improving upper limb motor function is crucial for independence in children with CP.
- Action observation treatment (AOT) is a potential therapeutic approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of AOT in enhancing upper limb motor function in children with CP.
- To compare AOT with a control intervention in a randomized controlled trial.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 15 children with CP (aged 6-11 years) was conducted.
- The case group received AOT (observing and imitating actions), while the control group observed non-motor content.
- The Melbourne Assessment Scale was used to measure functional outcomes pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in functional scores were observed between groups at baseline.
- A statistically significant improvement in functional score gain was noted in the AOT group compared to the control group (p=0.026).
Conclusions:
- Action observation treatment demonstrates effectiveness in improving upper limb motor function for children with CP.
- AOT can be considered a beneficial component of rehabilitation programs for pediatric CP.
Aim:
The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess whether action observation treatment may improve upper limb motor functions in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Method:
All children with CP admitted to our unit for rehabilitation from May 2009 to May 2010 were eligible. Inclusion criteria were age between 6 years and 11 years, an IQ of at least 70, and no major visual and/or auditory deficits. Fifteen children were enrolled and randomly assigned to either a case group (n=8; four males, four females; median age 7 y 6 mo) or control group (n=7; five males, two females; median age 8 y). Six participants had left-sided hemiplegia, six right-sided hemiplegia, and three had tetraplegia; 10 were independent walkers. Those in the case group were asked to observe video clips showing daily age-appropriate actions, and afterwards to imitate them. Participants in the control group were asked to observe video clips with no motor content and afterwards to execute the same actions as cases. The primary outcome measure was the Melbourne Assessment Scale. Children were scored twice at baseline (2 wks apart), and at the end of treatment, by a physician blind to group assignment.
Results:
At baseline groups did not differ on functional evaluation. After treatment, the functional score gain (Δ) was significantly different in the case and control groups (p=0.026).
Interpretation:
The present results support the notion that action observation treatment can be an effective part of the rehabilitation programme in children with CP.
