Action Observation Training to Improve Upper Limb Function in Infants with Unilateral Brain Lesion – a Feasibility Study

ABSTRACT

In this study, the feasibility of Action Observation Training (AOT) in combination with sensor-based measurements in infants at high risk of Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy (UCP) were evaluated. Over a four-week period, eight infants at high risk of UCP performed AOT at home while wearing sensors with assistance of caregivers. Sensor data were compared to clinical assessments of upper limb function, the Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI) and the Mini-Assisting Hand Assessment (Mini-AHA). AOT training time and acceptance by the caregivers were considered as indicators for feasibility. The excellent training adherence and positive feedback of the caregivers showed that the AOT was feasible in this patient group and setting. Sensor measurements were accepted and displayed significant correlations with hand function. These preliminary results indicate the potential of wearable sensors to record upper limb function over the course of AOT for infants at high risk of UCP. Thus, AOT in combination with sensor measurements are proposed as a feasible training tool to complement usual care.

KEYWORDS:

• action observation training
• Cerebral palsy
• hand function
• infants
• wearable sensors

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the children and their families who participated in this research. We also thank Petra Folly, occupational therapist, for helping with the assessments and Aileen Naef and Susan Edith Kaplan for proofreading.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data Availability Statement

According to the ethics and regulations of Switzerland, data is available upon request only.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2023.2193630.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by PedNet Bern, University Children’s Hospital, Inselspital, Bern and University of Bern, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, Gerontechnology & Rehabilitation, Bern. This project was partially funded by the Hasler Foundation (Grant Nr. 16072) and by PedNet Bern.