Efficacy of a new video observational training method (intensive visual simulation) for motor recovery in the upper limb in subacute stroke: a feasibility and proof-of-concept study

• Published in: Journal of rehabilitation medicine Vol. 56; p. jrm36119
• Main Authors: Ojardias, Etienne, Adham, Ahmed, Bessaguet, Hugo, Phaner, Virginie, Rimaud, Diana, Giraux, Pascal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Foundation for Rehabilitation Information 25-09-2024; MJS Publishing, on behalf of the Foundation for Rehabilitation Information; Medical Journals Sweden
• Subjects: Aged; Equipment and Supplies; Evaluation Study; Feasibility Studies; Feedback; Feedback, Sensory - physiology; Female; Hemiplegia; Hemiplegia - etiology; Hemiplegia - physiopathology; Hemiplegia - rehabilitation; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Proof of Concept Study; Recovery of Function; Sensory; Single-Blind Method; Stroke - complications; Stroke - physiopathology; Stroke Rehabilitation; Stroke Rehabilitation - methods; Treatment Outcome; Upper Extremity - physiopathology; feedback; stroke rehabilitation; equipment and supplies; evaluation study; sensory; equipment and supplies evaluation study feedback sensory hemiplegia stroke rehabilitation upper extremity intensive visual simulation IVS; IVS; hemiplegia; upper extremity; intensive visual simulation
• ISSN: 1651-2081; 1650-1977; 1651-2081
• DOI: 10.2340/jrm.v56.36119

To demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy  of a new video-observation training method (intensive visual simulation) to improve upper limb function.
Small sample, randomized, evaluator-blind, monocentric study.
Seventeen early subacute ischaemic stroke patients with complete hemiplegia were  randomly assigned to the therapeutic group (n = 8) or control group (CG, n = 9).
Thirty sessions of intensive visual simulation combined with corrected visual feedback (therapeutic group) or uncorrected visual feedback (control group) were performed over 6 weeks on top of a standard rehabilitation programme.
400-point hand assessment test (400p-HA).
Box and Blocks (B&B), Purdue Pegboard test, Minnesota.
The 400p-HA test improved significantly from T0 to 6 months for both groups, with a significant difference between groups at 3 months (MW-UT p = 0.046) and 4 months (MW-UT p = 0.046) in favour of the therapeutic group. One-phase exponential modelling of 400p-HA showed a greater plateau for the therapeutic group (F test p = 0.0021). There was also faster recovery of the ability to perform the B&B tests for the therapeutic group (log-rank test p = 0.03).
This study demonstrated the feasibility and potential efficacy of an intensive visual simulation training programme to improve upper limb  function in subacute stroke patients. A larger study is needed to confirm these results.