This study aimed to investigate the effect of motor imagery (MI) intervention with action observation (AO) on upper extremity function and corticospinal activation in stroke patients. MI and AO are two forms of motion simulation that activate the motor system without physical activity. There are many studies that show the effect of AO and MI alone, but there are few studies in parallel. This study was conducted on 45 patients who were divided into an experimental group (n = 22) and a control group (n = 23) using a computer randomization program. The experimental group conducted AO with MI, and the control group only AO. All participants received interventions for twenty-five minutes per session, five times a week, for eight weeks. For the pre- and post-evaluation of all participants, motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude was measured to compare corticospinal activation, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Motor Activity Log (MAL) were evaluated for changes in upper extremity function. In comparing the amount of change before and after the intervention, a significant change was observed in the experimental group’s MEP amplitude. In the comparison between groups after the intervention and the amount of change before and after the intervention, the experimental group showed significant changes in FMA UE and MAL Amount of Use (MAL AOU) items. As a result of this study, AO with MI is effective in enhancing upper extremity function and increasing cortical spinal cord activation in patients with severe stroke with limited movement.
(1) Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of virtual-reality-based hand motion training (VRT) in parallel with the Kinesio Taping (KT) technique on upper extremity function in stroke patients and to present a more effective therapeutic basis for virtual reality training intervention. (2) Methods: First, 43 stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups: 21 experimental subjects and 22 controls. The experimental group performed Kinesio Taping (KT) on the dorsal part of the hand along with virtual-reality-based hand motion training, and the control group performed only virtual-reality-based hand motion training. The intervention was conducted for a total of 30 sessions over 6 weeks. To evaluate changes in upper extremity function, the Fugl–Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and the Motor Activity Log (MAL) (including amount of use (AOU) and quality of movement (QOM)) were evaluated. In addition, the Self-Efficacy Scale (SEF) was evaluated to examine the change in the self-esteem of the study subjects. (3) Results: The experimental group who participated in the virtual reality training in parallel with the KT technique showed statistically significant improvement (** p < 0.01) in the FMA-UE, WMFT, and MAL evaluations that investigate changes in upper extremity function. SEF evaluation also showed a statistically significant improvement (** p < 0.01). A statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed in the evaluation of FMA-UE, WMFT, MAL-QOM, and SEF († p < 0.05), showing that that combined intervention was more effective at improving upper extremity function than the existing VRT intervention. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the MAL-AOU item, which is an evaluation of upper extremity function (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the amount of change in upper limb function (†† p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: It was confirmed that virtual-reality-based hand motion training performed in parallel with the KT technique had a positive effect on the recovery of upper extremity function of stroke patients. The fact that the KT technique provided stability to the wrist by assisting the wrist extensor muscles appears to have improved the upper extremity function more effectively than VRT alone.
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