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

A Touch-Observation and Task-based Mirror Therapy Protocol (MTPTOT) to Improve Sensorimotor Control and Functional Capability of Hands for Patients With Peripheral Nerve Injury

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sensation Disorders; Rehabilitation; Motor Deficit
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Sensorimotor reeducation programs

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 12
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Tainan, Taiwan, 704
    • National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 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.	Behavioral: Sensorimotor reeducation programs
Active Comparator: 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.	Behavioral: Sensorimotor reeducation programs

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change from baseline result of Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test at 12 weeks and 24 weeks	baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks
Change from baseline result of Purdue pegboard test at 12 weeks and 24 weeks	baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks
Change from baseline result of Minnesota manual dexterity test at 12 weeks and 24 weeks	baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks
Change from baseline result of Pinch-holding-up-activity (PHUA) test at 12 weeks and 24 weeks	baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change from baseline result of Static two-point discrimination (S2PD) test at 12 weeks and 24 weeks	baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 10, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): May 11, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 16, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2016
• Last Verified: May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Wounds and Injuries; Neuromuscular Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Trauma, Nervous System; Sensation Disorders; Peripheral Nerve Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: B-ER-102-389