Effects of Early Sensory Reeducation Programs Using Mirror Therapy for Patients With Peripheral Nerve Injuries

National Cheng-Kung University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Rehabilitation; Motor Deficit; Sensation Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Sensorimotor reeducation programs

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02768857

B-ER-102-389

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluated the effects of an integrated program of touch-observation and task-based mirror therapy on sensorimotor function in nerve injury patients. Before the return of protective sense (Value of Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test > 4.31), half of the participants received 15 minutes of mirror therapy program, followed by 20 minutes of regular hand therapy and 20 minutes of physiotherapy.While the other half received 15 minutes protective sensory reeducation programs, 20 minutes of regular hand therapy and 20 minutes of physiotherapy in each treatment session. Once the patients had regained the protective sense (Value of Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test < 4.31), the discriminative sensory reeducation program was started for the participants in both groups. The hypothesis was that using the mirror therapy for sensorimotor reeducation in the early phase after nerve repair would yield better results with regard to the returning of sensation, sensorimotor control ability and hand function than using a classical reeducation program alone.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• median or ulnar nerve injury,
• a combination of nerve and tendon or vascular injury,
• injury sites between the level of mid-palm and elbow, and
• the protective sensation of the hand is lacking or impaired.

Exclusion criteria

• patients with deficits in cognition or language comprehension, as well as severe limitations in the range of motion of the upper limbs.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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12 participants in 2 patient groups

Early sensorimotor reeducation intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group received 15 minutes of touch-observation and task-based mirror therapy program, followed by 20 minutes of regular hand therapy and 20 minutes of physiotherapy in each treatment session before the returning of the touch of a Semmes-Weinstein monofilament marked 4.31. Once the patients had regained the protective sense (SWM \< 4.31), the mirror therapy program was replaced with a discriminative sensory reeducation program. Treatment duration was 12 weeks, at a frequency of three sessions per week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Sensorimotor reeducation programs

Traditional sensorimotor reeducation intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group received received 15 minutes traditional sensory reeducation program, 20 minutes of regular hand therapy and 20 minutes of physiotherapy in each treatment session before the returning of the touch of a Semmes-Weinstein monofilament marked 4.31. Once the patients had regained the protective sense (SWM \< 4.31), the protective sensory reeducation program was replaced with a discriminative sensory reeducation program. Treatment duration was 12 weeks, at a frequency of three sessions per week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Sensorimotor reeducation programs