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Feasibility and efficacy of an early sensory-motor rehabilitation program on hand function in patients with stroke: a pilot, single-subject experimental design

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Abstract

Objective

Hand and upper limb functional impairments following stroke lead to limitations in performing activities of daily living. We aimed to investigate feasibility and efficacy of an early sensory-motor rehabilitation program on hand and upper limb function in patients with acute stroke.

Design

A pilot, single-subject experimental, A-B-A study.

Setting

Stroke unit of an educational hospital and an outpatient occupational therapy clinic.

Participants

A convenience sample including five people with acute stroke.

Procedures

Participants received 3 h of an intensive hand and upper limb sensory and motor rehabilitation program, 5 days per week for 3 months (15-min mental imagery, 15-min action observation, 30-min mirror therapy, 1.5-h constraint-induced movement therapy, and 30-min bilateral arm training). Activities were chosen based on the task-oriented occupational therapy approach.

Outcome measures

An assessor blinded to intervention program measured sensory and motor functions using action research arm test, box and block test, Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments, and upper extremity section of Fugl-Meyer assessment.

Results

Assessment data points in intervention and follow-up phases compared to baseline were in higher levels, sloped upwardly, and increased significantly for all participants in all outcome measures.

Conclusions

The present pilot study showed that a package of nowadays evidence-based rehabilitation methods including mental imagery, action observation, mirror therapy, modified constraint-induced movement therapy, bilateral arm training, and task-oriented occupational therapy approach is able to improve sensory and motor functions of the hand and upper limb in patients with acute stroke.

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Acknowledgements

We warmly thank the participants for their patiently participation and cooperation during the study period.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Maryam Mostajeran

  2. Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Saeed Alizadeh

  3. Department of Occupational Therapy, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Hamid Reza Rostami

  4. Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Amin Ghaffari

  5. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Iman Adibi

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  1. Maryam Mostajeran
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  4. Amin Ghaffari
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  5. Iman Adibi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hamid Reza Rostami.

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Ethical approval

The Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences approved the study protocol (IR.MUI.RESEARCH.REC.1398.511).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Mostajeran, M., Alizadeh, S., Rostami, H.R. et al. Feasibility and efficacy of an early sensory-motor rehabilitation program on hand function in patients with stroke: a pilot, single-subject experimental design. Neurol Sci 45, 2737–2746 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-023-07288-5

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