Improving Upper Extremity Functionality in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy with Action Observation Therapy

Abstract

Action Observation Therapy (AOT) is a neurorehabilitation-based treatment approach that supports the restoration of the central nervous system by imitating the same movements after monitoring the movements. It is known as a new rehabilitation approach that utilizes the neurophysiological mechanism to activate the neural structures that perform the function in many diseases such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, stroke, orthopedic injuries, Alzheimer's and speech disorders. Studies in healthy individuals and individuals with neurological or orthopedic effects; it is known that AOT application induces facilitation in the observer's motor system and supports the action-perception matching mechanism. This narrative review was planned to look through the available information on the use and effectiveness of AOT programs for the upper extremity in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The use of AOT is appropriate in the upper extremity rehabilitation of children with CP, since it can be easily adapted to different conditions, facilitates motor learning by supporting neural plasticity, and is economical; however, it is thought that more detailed studies are needed to determine the optimal application principles in terms of protocol, duration and application method.

Keywords

• Cerebral palsy
• upper extremity
• rehabilitation
• neuroplasticity

Eylem Gözlem Terapisi ile Unilateral Serebral Palsili Çocuklarda Üst Ekstremite Fonksiyonelliğinin Geliştirilmesi

Abstract

Eylem Gözlem Terapisi (EGT) hareketlerin izlenmesi sonrası aynı hareketlerin taklit edilmesi ile merkezi sinir sistemi restorasyonunu destekleyen nörorehabilitasyon temelli bir tedavi yaklaşımıdır. Serebral palsi, parkinson, inme, ortopedik yaralanmalar, alzheimer ve konuşma bozuklukları gibi pek çok hastalıkta, fonksiyonu gerçekleştiren nöral yapıları aktive etmek için nörofizyolojik mekanizmadan yararlanan yeni bir rehabilitasyon yaklaşımı olarak bilinir. Sağlıklı bireylerde ve nörolojik veya ortopedik etkilenimi olan bireylerde yapılan araştırmalar; EGT uygulamasının gözlemcinin motor sisteminde kolaylaştırmayı indüklediği ve eylem-algı eşleştirme mekanizmasını desteklediği bilinir. Bu derleme, Serebral Palsi (SP) tanılı çocuklarda üst ekstremiteye yönelik uygulanan EGT programlarının kullanımı ve etkinliği ile ilgili mevcut bilgileri gözden geçirmek amacıyla planlanmıştır. EGT kullanımının farklı koşullara kolayca adapte edilebilmesi, nöral plasitisiteyi destekleyerek motor öğrenmeyi fasilite etmesi ve ekonomik olması nedeniyle, SP’li çocukların üst ekstremite rehabilitasyonunda kullanımının uygun olduğu; ancak protokol, süre ve uygulama şekli açısından optimal uygulama prensiplerinin belirlenebilmesi için daha detaylı çalışmalara ihtiyaç olduğu düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

• Serebral palsi
• üst ekstremite
• rehabilitasyon
• nöroplastisite

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