The effects of physical training versus combined action observation and motor imagery in conjunction with physical training on upper-extremity performance

Combined action observation and motor imagery improves learning of activities of daily living in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is characterised by poor motor coordination, which interferes with the ability to execute activities of daily living (ADLs). Combined action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) involves observing movement videos whilst imagining simultaneously the sensations of executing the same movement. Laboratory-based research indicates that AOMI can help improve movement coordination in children with DCD, but no previous research had investigated the efficacy of AOMI interventions for learning ADLs. This study investigated the efficacy of a home-based, parent-led, AOMI intervention for learning ADLs in children with DCD. Children with confirmed (n = 23) or suspected (n = 5) DCD (total sample n = 28), aged 7-12 years, were assigned to either an AOMI intervention or a control intervention (both n = 14). Participants attempted the following ADLs at pre-test (week 1), post-test (week 4), and retention test (week 6): shoelace tying, cutlery use, shirt buttoning, and cup stacking. Task completion times and movement techniques were recorded. The AOMI intervention produced significantly faster task completion times than the control intervention at post-test for shoelace tying, and significantly improved movement techniques for shoelace tying and cup stacking. Importantly, for children who could not tie shoelaces at pre-test (n = 9 per group), 89% of those following the AOMI intervention learnt the skill successfully by the end of the study, compared to only 44% of those following the control intervention. The findings indicate that home-based, parent-led, AOMI interventions can aid the learning of complex ADLs in children with DCD, and may be particularly effective for facilitating the learning of motor skills that do not currently exist within these children's motor repertoire.

Recovery of Patients With Upper Limb Paralysis Due to Stroke Who Underwent Intervention Using Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Occupational Therapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

The combination of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and motor practice is based on the theory of neuromodulation and use-dependent plasticity. Predictive planning of occupational therapy (OT) is important for patients with rTMS conditioning. Recovery characteristics based on the severity of pretreatment upper extremity paralysis can guide the patient's practice plan for using the paretic hand. Therefore, we evaluated the recovery of patients with upper limb paralysis due to stroke who underwent a novel intervention of rTMS combined with OT (NEURO) according to the severity of upper limb paralysis based on the scores of the Fugl-Meyer assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE) with recovery in proximal upper extremity, wrist, hand, and coordination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, the recovery of 1397 patients with upper limb paralysis was analyzed by severity at six hospitals that were accredited by the Japanese Stimulation Therapy Society for treatment. The delta values of the FMA-UE scores before and after NEURO were compared among the groups with severe, moderate, and mild paralysis using the generalized linear model.

RESULTS

NEURO significantly improved the FMA-UE total score according to the severity of paralysis (severe = 5.3, moderate = 6.0, and mild = 2.9). However, when the FMA-UE subscores were analyzed separately, the results indicated specific improvements in shoulder/elbow, wrist, fingers, and coordination movements, depending on the severity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study had enough patients who were divided according to severity and stratified by lesion location and handedness parameters. Our results suggest that independently of these factors, the extent of recovery of upper limb motor parts after NEURO varies according to the severity of paralysis.

Muscle strength, balance and upper extremity function are not predictors of cervical proprioception in healthy young subjects

Purpose/Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between cervical proprioception sense and balance, hand grip strength, cervical region muscle strength and upper extremity functionality in healthy young subjects.Methods: A total of 200 people with a mean age of 20.8 ± 1.8 participated in the study. Cervical proprioception sense of the participants was evaluated with Cervical Joint Position Error Test (CJPET), balance with Biodex Stability System, hand grip strength with hand dynamometer, and upper extremity functionality with Perdue Pegboard test. The relationship of variables with cervical proprioception was evaluated with Pearson Correlation analysis.Results: According to this study results, there was no significant relationship between CJPET (extension, left rotation, right rotation) and sub-parameters of dynamic balance (anteroposterior, mediolateral, overall), cervical muscle strength and hand grip strength (p > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between CJPET flexion and static balance variables (p < 0.05).Conclusion: According to this study, there is no relationship between cervical proprioception and balance, hand grip muscle strength, cervical region muscle strength and upper extremity functionality in healthy young subjects.

The acute effects of action observation training on upper extremity functions, cognitive processes and reaction times: a randomized controlled trial

Aim: To investigate the acute effects of action observation training on upper extremity functions, cognitive functions and response time in healthy, young adults. Materials & methods: A total of 60 participants were randomly divided into five groups: the self-action observation group, action observation group, action practice group, non-action observation group and control group. The Jebsen-Taylor hand function test (JTHFT), nine-hole peg test, serial reaction time task and d2 test of attention were applied to the participants before and after the interventions. Results: JTHFT performance with both non-dominant and dominant hands improved significantly compared with baseline in all groups (p < 0.001). JTHFT performance with non-dominant and dominant hands differed between the groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Action observation training seems to enhance the performance of upper extremity-related functions. Observing self-actions resulted in statistically significant positive changes in more variables compared with other methods. However, its clinical effectiveness over the other methods should be investigated in future long-term studies. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04932057 (ClinicalTrials.gov).