Most stroke patients suffer from somatosensory and motor impairments, restricting their upper extremity function. Existing interventions mostly focus on either motor or somatosensory training, with limited research on their combined interventions. Integrating motor and somatosensory training within the same functional task may simultaneously improve both functions, though its effectiveness remains unclear.
Objectives:
This case report presented the effects of a somatosensory-motor integration training on somatosensory and motor functions and affected limb use in a chronic stroke patient.
Methods / Approach: A 77-year-old female experienced a right hemisphere ischemic stroke 6 months ago, resulting in left upper extremity somatosensory and motor impairments. After baseline assessment, she received fifteen 60-minute sessions of somatosensory-motor integration training over 5 weeks, followed by post-intervention and three-month follow-up assessments. Motor function was assessed with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), somatosensory function with the Revised Nottingham Sensory Assessment (rNSA), and frequency and quality of affected limb use with the Motor Activity Log (MAL).
Results / Practice Implications: The FMA-UE score increased from 28 to 34, and the rNSA score rose from 118 to 120. Furthermore, continued progress was observed during both the treatment and follow-up periods. Both frequency and quality of affected limb use improved, with the MAL frequency score increasing from 10 to 16 and the quality score from 11 to 25.
Conclusion / Significance to the Occupational Therapy Profession: Somatosensory-motor integration training may improve post-stroke somatosensory and motor functions and enhance the affected limb use. This approach holds promise for post-stroke rehabilitation.