The Effect of Action Observation Therapy on Upper Limb Motor Functions in Traumatic Brain Injury – A Pre–Post Experimental Study

Abstract Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes impairment in motor planning and may be impacted by damage to the brain networks and structures (cerebellum, basal ganglia, parietal cortex, and premotor cortex) which are responsible for the formation and execution of motor function. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of action observation therapy (AOT) on upper extremity (UE) motor function among patients with TBI, assessed through the change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment UE (FMA-UE), Box and Block Test (BBT), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) Scale. Materials and Methods: This experimental pre–post study included 26 samples recruited by convenient sampling method, diagnosed with TBI for ≤3 months. AOT was administered 60 min, 5 days a week for 6 weeks consecutively. An outcome measure of FMA, BBT, and FIM was assessed at baseline (T0), at the end of the 6 weeks (T1), and for follow-up at 3 months (T2). Results: After 6 weeks of AOT training, all the outcome measures showed significant progress statistically in the UE motor function ( P = 0.01). Additionally, these findings were also showing significant improvements at 3-month follow-up. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that AOT is an effective therapy for enhancing UE motor function and overall recovery in TBI patients during the initial recovery phase.