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

NCT ID: NCT02768857

Last Updated: 2016-05-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 12 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2014-12-31
• Study Completion Date: 2015-10-31

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Sensation Disorders; Motor Deficit; Rehabilitation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Early sensorimotor reeducation intervention

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sensorimotor reeducation programs

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Traditional sensorimotor reeducation intervention

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.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Sensorimotor reeducation programs

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Interventions

Sensorimotor reeducation programs

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Tainan City, Taiwan, Taiwan

Countries

Taiwan

Other Identifiers

B-ER-102-389

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id