Action Observation Training for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients

The purpose of this study is to assess the changes in physiological parameters and clinical scales resulting from treatment with AOT (action observation training) in subjects with subacute stroke. Furthermore, this study assess the perception of applicability and satisfaction degree for this kind of treatments.

After being informed about the study, all patients give written informed consent and will undergo a 1-week screening period to determine eligibility for study entry. Patient who meet the eligibility requirements will be given clinical and instrumental assessments before the start of treatment (T0) after 3 weeks (T1), at the end of the treatment (T2) and after 6 months (T3). A training program of 4 weeks including 250 videos of every day actions has been developed. Videos includes transitive and intransitive actions. Each week has a five day program, each day is divided in three sessions, in each session there are observation and imitation and attentional questions. AOT is always performed in conjunction with the conventional rehabilitation program.

Neurorehabilitation training for the upper limb using AOT consists of watching videos related to every day actions. The subjects will be asked to reproduce, as accurately as possible, the actions proposed by the system, that will record their execution. In order to keep high motivation and participation in activities, simple games of skill will also be created that will involve the patient on both the motor and cognitive side. The training program includes 250 videos of every day transitive and intransitive actions: 20 consecutive sessions of 1 hour, five times a week over four weeks.

Integration of four main tools: PATIENT INTERFACE, which has been implemented to present stimuli with a user friendly interface, with personalized menu and with the possibility to manage the training program; user personal page containing user information and history of activities with daily performance are stored too. MOCAP during action imitation will be recorded using MindMotion infrared camera to capture the trunk movement while an electromagnetic system (Trackstar from NDI) will be used to record fingers fine movements. EEG data will be collected during video observation using an Enobio wireless system integrated with the platform.

To measure spasticity. It consists of a 5-point nominal scale using subjective clinical assessments of tone ranging from 0 - 'No increases in tone' to 4 - 'Limb rigid in flexion or extension [abduction/adduction]'. An additional grade is added (1+) for the MAS to indicate resistance in the movement.

Scale that consists of a straight line with the endpoints defining extreme limits such as 'no pain at all' and 'pain as bad as it could be'. The length of the line is 10-cm. Measurements from the starting point (left end) of the scale to the patients' marks are recorded in centimeters and are interpreted as their pain.

EEG data will be recorded to test presence of particular changes in brain activity in during AOT training. In particular plasticity and mu rhythm desynchronization will be investigated.

Kinematic data of trunk and affected hand will be recorded during subject imitations and will be analysed to assess any improvements.

self-report questionnaire using a 5 point Likert scale (1 - Strongly disagree; 5 - Strongly agree). Higher score indicates greater satisfaction with the treatment.

Inclusion Criteria: Should had experienced first ever ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke Fugl-Meyer Assessment < 55 normal or corrected to normal visual acuity Exclusion Criteria: presence of severe neuropsychological disorders medical conditions likely to interfere with the ability to safely complete the study protocol pain in the upper limb assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)> 7 intracranial metal implants history of seizures or epilepsy severe cardiopulmonary, renal, and hepatic diseases pregnancy