Action Observation Treatment for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Patients With Stroke: Protocol for a Multicenter...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Rehabilitation
• Motor Recovery Strategies

Background:

• Noninvasive rehabilitative treatments are emerging for stroke patients.
• Action Observation Treatment (AOT), leveraging the mirror neuron system, positively impacts cortical activation and upper limb kinematics.
• Previous studies suggest AOT's effectiveness in improving motor recovery and daily living autonomy in stroke survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of AOT in stroke patients, focusing on its translational power and tailored treatment approaches.
• To determine the predictive value of neurophysiological biomarkers associated with AOT.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of a home-based AOT program.

Main Methods:

• A 3-arm, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial involving 60 chronic stroke patients.
• Participants received 15 sessions of AOT (in-hospital, at-home, or sham) over 3 sessions per week.
• Primary outcome measured by Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity scores; secondary outcomes included clinical, biomechanical, and neurophysiological assessments.

Main Results:

• Recruitment for the study is complete (closed December 2022).
• Preliminary analysis of effectiveness and neurophysiological outcomes is underway.
• Study results are anticipated for publication in spring 2023.

Conclusions:

• The study evaluates the effectiveness of in-hospital and home-based AOT in chronic stroke patients.
• It aims to assess neurophysiological biomarkers and their predictive value.
• The research seeks to demonstrate functional cortical modifications via the mirror neuron system and assess the feasibility of home-based AOT in Italy.