Mirror Therapy and Action Observation Therapy to Increase the Affected Upper Limb Functionality in Children with Hemiplegia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol

Rocío Palomo-Carrión, Juan Carlos Zuil-Escobar, Myriam Cabrera-Guerra, Paloma Barreda-Martínez and Carmen Belén Martínez-Cepa
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Rocío Palomo-Carrión: Department of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursery, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Juan Carlos Zuil-Escobar: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, 28925 Madrid, Spain
Myriam Cabrera-Guerra: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, 28925 Madrid, Spain
Paloma Barreda-Martínez: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, 28925 Madrid, Spain
Carmen Belén Martínez-Cepa: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, 28925 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: The movements of the affected upper limb in infantile hemiplegia are slower and clumsy. This leads to a decrease in the use of the affected hand. The visual effect obtained using the mirror box and the observation of actions in another individual can activate the same structural neuronal cells responsible for the execution of these actions. This research will study the affected upper limb functionality in hemiplegia infantile from 6 to 12 years old after the application of two intervention protocols: observation action therapy and mirror therapy combined with observation action therapy. Children with a diagnose of congenital infantile hemiplegia will be recruited to participate in a randomized controlled trial with two intervention protocols during four weeks (1 h per/day; 5 sessions per/week): Mirror Therapy Action Observation (MTAO) or Action Observation Therapy (AOT). The study variables will be: spontaneous use, measured with the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA); manual ability measured with the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT); surface electromyography of the flexors and extensors muscles of the wrist and grasp strength through a grip dynamometer. Four assessments will be performed: At baseline situation, at the end of treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment (follow-up assessments). This study will study the effects of these therapies on the use of the affected upper limb in children with hemiplegia.

Keywords: action observation therapy; infantile hemiplegia; mirror therapy; upper extremity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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