2015 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 251-256
[Purpose] To investigate the effect of action observation therapy on the lower limb function of chronic stage hemiplegic stroke patients. [Subjects] The subjects were 21 chronic stage hemiplegic stroke patients. [Methods] The subjects were divided into an action observation therapy (AO) group, and a control group. The AO group watched a video of a person performing forward and lateral stepping for 5 min, then performed the same exercise themselves for 5 min. The control group performed only the forward and lateral stepping for 5 min. The outcome measures, the numbers of successful forward and lateral steps, the functional reach test (FRT), and the four square step test (FSST), were measured before, after, and 1 month after the intervention. [Result] In the comparison of the groups, mutual interaction was found for FRT. In the AO group, the successful number of forward steps, FRT, and FSST results showed significant improvements, which were maintained at 1 month post-intervention. Regarding the effective dose, all of the measured items of the AO group were better than those of the control group. [Conclusion] Action observation therapy for chronic stage hemiplegic stroke patients significantly improved lower limb performance in comparison with physical training alone.
