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

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.