The effect of action observation therapy on upper extremity function in chi̇ldren with obstetric brachial plexus injury

Aim: To compare the effects of Action Observation Therapy (AOT) and Photo Observation (PO) on upper limb function in children with OBPI in a randomised controlled trial. Method: Twenty-six children with OBPI aged between 6-17 years participated in the study and were divided into EGT and PO groups. During 15 sessions, each session lasted 30 minutes, a total of 18 ADL movements were practised. The AOT group watched the ADL for two minutes through pre-prepared videos and then repeated the movement they watched for three minutes. The PO group observed the photographs taken from the video for two minutes and then practised the described movement for three minutes. Abilhand-Kids (AK), Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT), Modified Push-up Test (MPT), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Lateral Reach Test (LRT), Brachial Plexus Outcome Measurement (BPOM), Gilbert and Raimondi Score (GRS), Box Block Test (BBT) were performed before and after the treatment. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant in all analyses. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed in AOT and PO groups after treatment (p>0.05). Significant improvements were observed in the EGT and FG groups in AK(p<0.001), SMBT(p<0.001), MPT(p<0.001), BBT(p<0.001), FRT(p<0.001), LRT(p<0.001), BPOM(p<0.001), and Arm Works of BPOM scores(p<0.001/p=0.003). Only the AOT group provided significant improvement in the Hand Works of the BPOM(p=0.012). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that AOT was more effective than PO in improving UE strength, gross manual dexterity and ADL functions; both interventions provided significant improvement in reaching quality and joint movements and could be used as alternatives to each other.