1
|
Beani E, Menici V, Sicola E, Ferrari A, Feys H, Klingels K, Mailleux L, Boyd R, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Effectiveness of the home-based training program Tele-UPCAT (Tele-monitored UPper Limb Children Action Observation Training) in unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2023; 59:554-563. [PMID: 37462399 PMCID: PMC10664769 DOI: 10.23736/s1973-9087.23.07945-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) are largely observed in the upper limb (UL), which represents the main focus of rehabilitation for this disorder. Thanks to an increment in home training and progress in technology innovative systems have been created. The Tele-UPCAT (Tele-monitored UPper Limb Children Action Observation Training) platform is dedicated to the delivery at home of a program for UL rehabilitation, based on action observation therapy (AOT). AIM This study aimed to investigate the immediate effectiveness of Tele-UPCAT for promoting UL skills in children with UCP and to determine if immediate effects were retained in the medium and long term. DESIGN Tele-UPCAT was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis and was proposed as a randomized, allocation concealed (waitlist controlled) and evaluator-blinded clinical trial with two investigative arms: intensive in-home AOT program and standard care (SC). SETTING This is a home-based AOT program delivered with a customized ICT platform. POPULATION Thirty children (mean age 11.61±3.55 years) with confirmed diagnosis of spastic UCP with predominant UL involvement and cognitive level within or at normal limits were enrolled in this study. Orthopedic surgery or an intramuscular botulinum toxin A injection in the UL within 6 months prior to enrolment represented an exclusion criteria. METHODS Participants were randomized using concealed random allocation. They were assessed according to the study design with the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), the Box and Block Test (BBT) and the Melbourne Assessment 2 (MA2). Linear mixed models were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS A significant difference between the AOT and SC groups was identified immediately after the training on the AHA (6.406 [2.73] P=0.021) with an effect size (ES) of 1.99, and for the BBT of the less affected hand (9.826 [4.535] P=0.032) with an ES of 1.44. These effects were sustained at medium and long term. CONCLUSIONS This study supports the effectiveness of AOT home training in promoting UL skills in children with UCP, with immediate effects lasting for 6 months. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT This should encourage the use of technology for rehabilitative purposes and further applications of the AOT paradigm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Beani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina Menici
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Sicola
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Adriano Ferrari
- Unit of Children Rehabilitation, IRCCS S. Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Hilde Feys
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrijn Klingels
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Lisa Mailleux
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roslyn Boyd
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Sgandurra
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy -
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Menici V, Barzacchi V, Filogna S, Beani E, Tinelli F, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Tele-Rehabilitation for Postural Control by Means of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System in an Adolescent With Motor Disorder: A Case Study. Front Psychol 2021; 12:720677. [PMID: 34721174 PMCID: PMC8551356 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The coming of an unforeseen and hostile event such as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about various changes in everyone's daily life. During the lockdown period, a huge number of restrictions were imposed, hence interrupting a wide range of activities previously proven to be necessary for some people. Due to the circumstances, rehabilitation treatments for children with neurodevelopmental disorders have been suspended, resulting in consequent distress for the children themselves and their parents. To overcome this problem, a tele-rehabilitation approach has proven to be an excellent solution to give continuity to children's rehabilitation. The tele-rehabilitation approach allows access to rehabilitation services directly from home. During lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) HomeKit, developed by Khymeia, was employed as a rehabilitation system for the treatment of posture and balance of an adolescent with disabilities for the first time ever. Specifically, a 17-year-old female patient was enrolled and evaluated by the clinical staff before and after the home-training sessions. The system was delivered to the patient's home so that she could perform the tasks in a familiar environment, while under the supervision of the clinical staff. Through a specific platform, using different modules of the system, therapists could remotely check that the proposed exercises were properly performed and provide feedback and/or increase the difficulty according to the patient's needs and progress. Therefore, the treatment performed was carried out at home in a personalized, intensive, and playful way; characteristics do not present in a traditional treatment. Our results are promising and demonstrate both the efficacy of rehabilitation exercises carried out at home and the feasibility of home-based rehabilitation, when using the VRRS HomeKit even with adolescents. The VRRS HomeKit presents some limitations, such as the need to have the line connection and free space at home, the presence of technical issues, and the education of parents and patients to understand the instructions. Despite the limitations, this study provides the basis for continuing the experience of tele-rehabilitation on patients with a motor disorder also by customizing the exercises to their characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Menici
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Veronica Barzacchi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Filogna
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Beani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Tinelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Sgandurra
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Maresca G, Maggio MG, De Luca R, Manuli A, Tonin P, Pignolo L, Calabrò RS. Tele-Neuro-Rehabilitation in Italy: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Front Neurol 2020; 11:563375. [PMID: 33101176 PMCID: PMC7554582 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.563375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Current research suggests that the management of neurological diseases, both in adults and children, requires an ever increasing commitment of resources for the national healthcare system (NHS). In Italy, due to the aging of the population, increase in chronicity and morbidity of pathologies, and presence of islands and rural areas, health needs to be supported by innovative technologies. Telemedicine is a method of providing healthcare services at distance, remotely connecting health professionals and patients (or two professionals). In Italy, telemedicine is under development, and the NHS has not yet exploited and independently developed all the possibilities that telemedicine offers. Tele-rehabilitation consists in the use of information and communication technologies for the remote support of rehabilitation services. By allowing “home care,” it represents a valid support during the home rehabilitation process. This review is aimed at evaluating the role of telerehabilitation in Italy, with regard to the motor and cognitive rehabilitation programs applied to neurological pathologies, in both pediatric and adult patients. We screened the studies published between 2010 and 2019 on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. Using the PICO model, the search combined the terms “telerehabilitation”; “neurological disorders”; “neurodegenerative disease,” “motor telerehabilitation”; “cognitive rehabilitation.” This review showed that telerehabilitation is a promising healthcare tool, as it guarantees continuity of care over time (after discharge) and in space (from hospital to patient's home), especially in patients with stroke. Furthermore, it allows to increase the frequency and intensity of rehabilitation programs, provide individualized rehabilitation treatment in comfortable and familiar environment for patient, monitor and evaluate patients' needs and progress, stimulate patient motivation and achieve better patient satisfaction, verify the results achieved by the patients, and potentially reduce the service costs. Unfortunately, almost all neurorehabilitation studies are characterized by small samples and wide variability of results, and would benefit from standardized procedures, aims and targets. Future telerehabilitation trials should include cost-effectiveness analysis associated with clinical outcomes to better assess the validity of this promising tool.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Paolo Tonin
- S. Anna Institute, Research in Advanced Neurorehabilitation, Crotone, Italy
| | - Loris Pignolo
- S. Anna Institute, Research in Advanced Neurorehabilitation, Crotone, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jeong YA, Lee BH. Effect of Action Observation Training on Spasticity, Gross Motor Function, and Balance in Children with Diplegia Cerebral Palsy. CHILDREN-BASEL 2020; 7:children7060064. [PMID: 32570855 PMCID: PMC7346110 DOI: 10.3390/children7060064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of action observation training on spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Eighteen children with cerebral palsy participated in this study. The participants were randomized into the action observation training group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 9). The action observation training group repeatedly practiced the action with their motor skills, while the control group practiced conventional physical therapy. Both groups received 30 min sessions, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. To confirm the effects of intervention, the spasticity, gross motor function measurement (GMFM), and pediatric reaching test (PRT) were evaluated. The results showed that in the plantar flexor contracture test of both sides, the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) of the right side of knee joints, GMFM-B, C, and D were significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within both groups (p < 0.05). PRT was significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within the both groups (p < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that action observation training is both feasible and beneficial for improving spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young-a Jeong
- Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, 01795 Seoul, Korea;
| | - Byoung-Hee Lee
- Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, 01795 Seoul, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-3399-1634
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Beani E, Menici V, Ferrari A, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Feasibility of a Home-Based Action Observation Training for Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: An Explorative Study. Front Neurol 2020; 11:16. [PMID: 32180754 PMCID: PMC7059420 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Unilateral Cerebral Palsy (UCP), the most frequent form of Cerebral Palsy, usually affects more the upper limb (UL) than the lower limb. Rehabilitation programs are addressed to improve manual abilities and UL use. In recent years, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been introduced in rehabilitation to increase treatment opportunities for patients, and also in home-based intervention. Moreover, the discovery of the Mirror Neuron System allowed to insert a new paradigm of treatment that is the Action Observation Training (AOT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of a new rehabilitative home-based approach, called Tele-UPCAT (Tele-monitored UPper Limb Children Action Observation Training), based on the principles of AOT, in a group of Italian children and adolescents with UCP. This investigation was to provide information about the possibility of introducing ICT in telerehabilitation field. Twenty-nine children aged 11.73 ± 3.65 years (range 6.00–18.75) with a diagnosis of UCP participated in the study. They carried out 15 days of training based on the AOT paradigm with Tele-UPCAT system while wearing Actigraphs on both wrists. The feasibility of both training and study design and procedures was assessed through nine criteria taken from existent literature and from a questionnaire designed and realized ad hoc for the purpose, based on standard items of usability and acceptability. All feasibility criteria were met: 80% of training sessions were completed in the planned time and no significant technical issues were found. From the questionnaire, total scores were all above 82.15%, while the four sections obtained the following scores: (i) customization of exercises 80.00%; (ii) acceptability at home, 77.50%; (iii) required effort 80.00%; and (iv) suitability of manual and software 95.00%. No differences were found for age and sex. Tele-UPCAT demonstrated to be feasible as a home-based AOT for children and adolescents with UCP. Trial registration NCT03094455.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Beani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina Menici
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Adriano Ferrari
- Children Rehabilitation Unit, Azienda USL - IRCCS Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Sgandurra
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Buchignani B, Beani E, Pomeroy V, Iacono O, Sicola E, Perazza S, Bieber E, Feys H, Klingels K, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Action observation training for rehabilitation in brain injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Neurol 2019; 19:344. [PMID: 31881854 PMCID: PMC6935205 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-019-1533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To systematically review and analyse the effects of Action Observation Training on adults and children with brain damage. Methods Seven electronic databases (Cochrane, EBSCO, Embase, Eric, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched up to 16 September 2018 to select Randomized Controlled Trials focused on adults and children with brain damage that included AOT training on upper and/or lower limb carried out for at least 1 week. Identification of studies and data extraction was conducted with two reviewers working independently. Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine (March2009) – Levels of Evidence and Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale were used to grade studies. The data collected from the articles were analysed using software R, version 3.4.3. Hedge’s g values were calculated and effect size estimates were pooled across studies. Separate meta-analyses were carried out for each ICF domain (i.e. body function and activity) for upper and lower limb. Results Out of the 210 records identified after removing duplicates, 22 were selected for systematic review and 19 were included in the meta-analysis. Thirteen studies included in the meta-analysis focused on upper limb rehabilitation (4 in children and 9 in adults) and 6 on lower limb rehabilitation (only studies in adults). A total of 626 patients were included in the meta-analysis. An overall statistically significant effect size was found for upper limb body function (0.44, 95% CI: [0.24, 0.64], p < 0.001) and upper limb activity domain (0.47, 95% CI: [0.30, 0.64], p < 0.001). For lower limb, only the activity domain was analysed, revealing a statistically significant overall effect size (0.56, 95% CI: [0.28, 0.84], p < 0.001). Conclusions Action Observation Training (AOT) is an innovative rehabilitation tool for individuals with brain damage, which shows promising results in improving the activity domain for upper and lower limbs, and also the body function domain for the upper limb. However, the examined studies lack uniformity and further well-designed, larger controlled trials are necessary to determine the most suitable type of AOT particularly in children. Systematic review registration CRD42019119600.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Buchignani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Beani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valerie Pomeroy
- Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Alliance, School of health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Research Park, Norwich, NR31 9HL, UK
| | - Oriana Iacono
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Sicola
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Perazza
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Bieber
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Hilde Feys
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrijn Klingels
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Sgandurra
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. .,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Beani E, Maselli M, Sicola E, Perazza S, Cecchi F, Dario P, Braito I, Boyd R, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Actigraph assessment for measuring upper limb activity in unilateral cerebral palsy. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2019; 16:30. [PMID: 30795810 PMCID: PMC6387534 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-019-0499-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detecting differences in upper limb use in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is challenging and highly dependent on examiner experience. The recent introduction of technologies in the clinical environment, and in particular the use of wearable sensors, can provide quantitative measurement to overcome this issue. This study aims to evaluate ActiGraph GT3X+ as a tool for measuring asymmetry in the use of the two upper limbs (ULs) during the assessment with a standardized clinical tool, the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) in UCP patients aged 3-25 years compared to age-matched typically developing (TD) subjects. METHODS Fifty children with UCP and 50 TD subjects were assessed with AHA while wearing ActiGraphs GT3X+ on both wrists. The mean activity of each hand (dominant and non-dominant, MADH and MANDH, respectively) and the asymmetry index (AI) were calculated. Two linear mixed model analyses were carried out to evaluate how dependent actigraphic variables (i.e. MANDH and AI) varied by group (TD vs UCP) and among levels of manual ability based on Manual Ability Classification System (MACS). In both models age, sex, side of hemiplegia, presence/absence of mirror movements were specified as random effects. RESULTS The MANDH was significantly lower in UCP compared to TD, while the AI was significantly higher in UCP compared to TD. Moreover, in UCP group there were significant differences related to MACS levels, both for MANDH and AI. None of the random variables (i.e. age, sex, side, presence/absence of mirror movements) showed significant interaction with MANDH and AI. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm that actigraphy could provide, in a standardized setting, a quantitative description of differences between upper limbs activity. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClincalTrials.gov, NCT03054441 . Registered 15 February 2017.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Beani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Maselli
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Sicola
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Perazza
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Cecchi
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Dario
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Braito
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roslyn Boyd
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Sgandurra
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Reorganization of the Action Observation Network and Sensory-Motor System in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: An fMRI Study. Neural Plast 2018; 2018:6950547. [PMID: 30147718 PMCID: PMC6083552 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6950547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the action observation network (AON) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Using fMRI, we aimed to explore AON and sensory-motor network (SMN) in UCP children and compare them to typically developed (TD) children and analyse the relationship between AON (re-)organization and several neurophysiological and clinical measures. Twelve UCP children were assessed with clinical scales and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). For the fMRI study, they underwent a paradigm based on observation of complex and simple object-manipulation tasks executed by dominant and nondominant hand. Moreover, UCP and TD children carried out a further fMRI session to explore SMN in both an active motor and passive sensory task. AON in the UCP group showed higher lateralization, negatively related to performances on clinical scales, and had greater activation of unaffected hemisphere as compared to the bilateral representation in the TD group. In addition, a good congruence was found between bilateral or contralateral activation of AON and activation of SMN and TMS data. These findings indicate that our paradigm might be useful in exploring AON and the response to therapy in UCP subjects.
Collapse
|