Effect Of Action Observation Therapy On Upper Limb Function In Children With Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Objective: To investigate the effect of AOT on the upper limbs function of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy and the optimal treatment intensity and treatment duration of AOT.Method: 45 children aged 5~12 with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into control group and AOT group.The control group consisted of group A(n=11)and group B(n=13),The AOT group consisted of group C(n=10)and group D(n=11).The conventional rehabilitation treatments were applied in both groups.But the control group received scenic-observation therapy in addition for 12 weeks,five times per week,20 min per time for group A(n=11),30 min per time for group B(n=13).The AOT group received action observation therapy(AOT)in addition for 12 weeks,five times per week,20 min per time for group C(n=10),30 min for group D(n=11).Hand grip strength,Carroll hand function evaluation,and WeeFIM were assessed before treatment,8 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment to estemate effect of action observation therapy on rehabilitation of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.Result: Before treatment,there was no significant difference between the four groups in the assessment of Hand grip strength and Carroll hand function evaluation and WeeFIM functional independence(p>0.05).After 8 and 12 weeks of treatment,all the evaluation results in the four groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(p<0.05).The results of Hand grip strength and Carroll hand function evaluation in group C were better than those in group A(p<0.05)after 8 and 12 weeks of treatment,group D was superior to group B(P<0.05),group D was superior to group C(P<0.05),the evaluation results of 12 weeks were better than that of 8 weeks(p<0.05).There was no significant difference in the evaluation results of the WeeFIM functional independence evaluation among groups after 8 and 12 weeks of treatment(p>0.05).Conclusion: The motor function of upper extremity in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy was improved by action observation therapy,and the best treatment intensity and treatment duration was 30 min per time,5 times per week for 12 weeks.