The effect of video based action observation training and liveaction observation training on motor function, activity participation and secondary outcome measures in children with spastic diplegiccerebral palsy

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of video-based action and live action observation training on motor function, activity participation and secondary outcome measures in children with spastic diplegic Cerebral Palsy. Material and Method: 39 children with spastic diplegic Cerebral Palsy between the ages of 5-14 and with mobility levels I, II, and III according to Gross Motor Function Classification System were included in the study were divided into 3 groups by stratified randomization. Group 1 for 8 weeks, 20 minutes of video-based action observation training in addition to the conventional physiotherapy program; Group 2, 20 minutes of live action observation training in addition to the conventional physiotherapy program; Group 3 received a conventional physiotherapy program for 40 minutes. Participants were evaluated with Gross Motor Function Measurement, Adolescent Scale of Participation, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale, Timed up and go test, Five times sit-tostand test, Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire and 1 minute walk test. Results: In the 2st group; Significant improvements were observed in all other evaluation parameters of the groups (p<0.05), except for the GMFM-'Lying and Rolling' (p=0.066), in the 3rd group, except for the GMFM-'Lying and Rolling' (p=0.317), 'Crawling and Kneeling' (p=0.063) motor dimensions and Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire-Walking Scale (p=0.172). Comparisons of the increases in all other measurements between the groups, except for the dimensions of GMFM-'Lying and Rolling' (p=0.172), were statistically significant (p<0.05) and this difference was in favor of action observation trainings. Conclusion: It was found that two different action observation trainings applied in addition to conventional physiotherapy in children with spastic diplegic Cerebral Palsy were more effective on gross motor function, activity participation and secondary outcome measures in general than conventional physiotherapy alone. Keywords: Mirror neurons, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, observation, cerebral palsy