Improved function of hemiplegic upper extremity after cognitive sensory motor training therapy in chronic stroke patients: preliminary report of a case series.

BACKGROUND: Recovery of upper extremity functions after a severe stroke and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have generally been less than satisfactory. The "cognitive sensory motor training therapy" is a relatively new method claimed to improve motor control using a specific type of repetitive sensory and motor re-learning protocol. There has been no previous study demonstrating the effectiveness of this method. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of the cognitive sensory motor training therapy to improve upper extremity motor function in chronic stroke and TBI patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Seven patients with persistent impaired upper extremity functions for over 6 months after a stroke or TBI were trained with the cognitive sensory motor training therapy program. Hand and arm functions were measured with Action Research Arm (ARA) test before the beginning of the study and once a month thereafter. Data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: There was improvement of ARA scores in all of the trained patients. On average there was an increase of the ARA score of 7.7 points during the average training time of 2.5 months. CONCLUSION: The cognitive sensory motor training therapy may be an effective method for motor rehabilitation of chronic stroke or traumatic brain injured patients. Further prospective randomized control trials are justified and required.

The relationship between a high level of physical fitness and working memory in blind, deaf, and non-disabled adolescents.

This research investigated the working memory of blind, deaf, and non-disabled adolescents after performing long term physical activity. A group of 72 male adolescents (aged from 15 to 18 years) was divided into groups with maximal oxygen consumption (H-) and a group with the lowest oxygen consumption (L-) (10 subjects in each group HB HD and HN Vs LB LD and LN). Neuropsychological tasks including non-verbal, verbal, and tactile memory tests were adapted and tested for reliability in 30 male normal extra-subjects that were 0.97, 0.83, and 0.82 respectively. The results found that blind individuals with a high fitness level (HB) responded with higher tactile memory scores (P<0.001) while deaf individuals with a high fitness level (HD) had shorter non-verbal memory times (P<0.05), compared to their control groups. Moreover, disabled students with a high level of fitness (HB and HD) displayed cognitive capacities close to non-disabled with a low fitness level (LN) students (P>0.05). In conclusion, the opportunity for sensory-motor integration into working memory through intact vision or hearing can be enhanced by a suitable amount of exercise.