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The Effect of Video-Based Action Observation Training and Live Action Observation Training on Motor Function,
Dilan Demirtas Karaoba1, Burcu Talu2
1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Igdir University, Iğdır, Turkey.
Insights
Action observation training, including video-based and live formats, significantly improved motor function and participation in children with spastic diparetic cerebral palsy compared to conventional physiotherapy alone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
- Motor control
Background:
- Spastic diparetic cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in children.
- Conventional physiotherapy is a standard treatment.
- Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to enhance outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of Video-Based Action Observation Training (VAOT) and Live Action Observation Training (LAOT) combined with conventional physiotherapy.
- To evaluate the impact on motor function, activity participation, and secondary measures in children with spastic diparetic CP.
- To determine if these training methods are superior to conventional physiotherapy alone.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 39 children (aged 5-14) with spastic diparetic CP (GMFCS I-III).
- Three groups: VAOT (physiotherapy + VAOT), LAOT (physiotherapy + LAOT), and Control (physiotherapy only).
- Intervention duration was 8 weeks, with specific time allocations for physiotherapy and observation training.
Main Results:
- Both VAOT and LAOT groups showed significant improvements across most outcome measures compared to the control group.
- Improvements were noted in Gross Motor Function Measurement, Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale, timed-up-and-go test, FTSST, GFAQ, and 1MWT.
- The control group and LAOT group had some non-significant results in specific motor subtests (lying/rolling, crawling/kneeling).
Conclusions:
- Action Observation Training (AOT), in both video and live formats, is more effective than conventional physiotherapy alone for children with spastic diparetic CP.
- AOT enhances motor function and participation in this population.
- These findings support the integration of AOT into standard rehabilitation protocols for spastic diparetic cerebral palsy.
Background:
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Video-Based Action Observation Training and Live Action Observation Training on motor function, activity participation, and secondary outcome measures in children with spastic diparetic cerebral palsy (CP).
Materials And Methods:
Thirty-nine children with spastic diparetic cerebral palsy, aged 5-14 years, with Gross Motor Function Classification System I-III, were distributed in equal numbers to any of the Video-Based Action Observation Training (conventional physiotherapy + Video-Based Action Observation Training), Live Action Observation Training (conventional physiotherapy + Live Action Observation Training), and control (conventional physiotherapy) groups through stratified randomization. For 8 weeks, action observation training groups received 20 minutes of conventional physiotherapy followed by 20 minutes of action observation training, and the control group received 40 minutes of conventional physiotherapy. Primary outcome measures were Gross Motor Function Measurement and Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation, secondary outcome measures were Pediatric Berg Balance Scale, timed-up-and-go test, five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST), Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (GFAQ), and 1-minute walk test (1MWT).
Results:
Improvements were observed in all other evaluation parameters of the groups except Gross Motor Function Measurement-lying and rolling (P = .066) in the Live Action Observation Training Group, and lying and rolling (P = .317) and crawling and kneeling (P = .063) motor subtests and Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire-walking scale (P = .513) in the control group. Comparisons of the increases in all other measurements between the groups, except for the dimensions of Gross Motor Function Measurement-lying and rolling (P = .172), were statistically significant (P < .05) and this difference was in favor of action observation training.
Conclusion:
It was found that 2 different AOTs applied in addition to conventional physiotherapy in children with spastic diparetic cerebral palsy were more effective on all outcomes than was conventional physiotherapy alone.
