Action Observation Treatment in a tele-rehabilitation setting: a pilot study in children with cerebral palsy

Objective: Action Observation Treatment is a novel rehabilitation approach exploiting a neurophysiological mechanism that allows one to recruit the neural structures sub-serving action execution during the mere observation of those same actions. Action Observation Treatment is effective in the rehabilitation of several neurological diseases. In this pilot study, we used Action Observation Treatment in a telerehabilitation setting in children with Cerebral Palsy. Materials and methods: Ten children with Cerebral Palsy, aged 5–12 years, entered the study. They followed the Action Observation Treatment rehabilitation program at home with remote supervision by a child neurologist located at the hospital. Outcome measures were the scores at the Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function Scale and the Assisting Hand Assessment. Results: Scores obtained after treatment and at a two months’ follow-up significantly differed from baseline and overlapped those obtained in randomized controlled studies carried out in a conventional setting. Conclusions: Action Observation Treatment is therefore a promising approach that can be used on a large scale in a telerehabilitation setting.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Tele-rehabilitation has the potential to enhance early intervention service provision for children with Cerebral Palsy. Action Observation Treatment has the potential to become a routine approach in a telerehabilitation setting.