Motor functional neurological disorders (FND) correspond to motor symptoms that are unexplained by an organic lesion but are due to cerebral dysfunction. Patients with these disorders have high rates of disability and health care utilization, and their quality of life is as impaired as that of patients with an "organic" disease. Accompanying these patients in their often-complex health journey represents a socio-economic and human challenge that demands interdisciplinary collaboration. Rehabilitation is seen as an important part of the therapy for motor FND. However, further research is needed to refine appropriate interventions and to create evidence-based recommendations. In this study, patients suffering from a functional neurological motor disorder of the upper limb will be included in a novel rehabilitation protocol that includes computerized mirror therapy. The study will used a multiple baseline, across subjects, single-case experimental design (SCED). In this type of design, each subject is his own control, with individual parameters being repeatedly measured in the presence and absence of the intervention of interest (computerized mirror therapy). Computerized mirror therapy could restore the coherence between the motor program and its execution. The investigators hypothesize that this process could re-normalize upper-limb motor activity and that this will have a beneficial impact on manual dexterity, quality of life, and mental representation capacities of the upper limb. The objective of this project is to use the single case experimental design method to investigate the efficacy of rehabilitation with computerized mirror therapy for patients suffering from motor neurological disorders (FND) of the upper limb.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
5
atients will be admitted to the day hospital 2 days a week for 9 weeks. They will participate in a one-on-one rehabilitation program conducted by a multidisciplinary team including a physiotherapist, psychomotor therapist, occupational therapist and a physical activity monitor. Patients will also participate in 12 computerized mirror therapy sessions (twice a day, 2 days a week, from week 4 to 6 of the program).
Hôpital Henry Gabrielle - Hospices Civils de Lyon
Saint-Genis-Laval, France
Change in upper limb motor activity
The actimeter will quantify the level of motor activity of each upper limb, defined by acceleration (number of movements per day that can be described as involving weak, moderate, or intense acceleration) and the number of continuous activities over a 24 hour period. We will compare the activity of the affected hand across the three experimental phases and between the affected and non-affected hands within each phase.
Time frame: Continuous measurements over 24 hours, 7 days a week, during the 9 weeks of study participation
Change in the evaluation of achievement of the patient's rehabilitation objectives using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS)
The GAS will be established and graded individually with the patient during the first visit, with a maximum of 2 objectives. The GAS produces a quantitative index of patient goal attainment that the patient determines at the beginning of the study with the help of a professional. The GAS is assessed weekly using a 5-point scale of -2 and +2. The scale allows each patient to set functional goals by scaling them gradually. The patient's initial level should be set at a score of -2 and the desired level should be set at 0, with +2 representing achievement beyond their initial goal.
Time frame: Once a week during patient participation (9 weeks)
Manual dexterity assessment using the Box and Block Test
The Box and Block test is a simple and quick evaluation of global upper limb motricity with well established validity, test-retest reliability and inter-rater reproducibility. The patient must use one hand to move as many cubes as possible from one side of the box to the other in 60 seconds. The 60-second test is repeated one time for each hand. The score is the number of blocks moved from one compartment to the other in 60 seconds and a separate score is established for each hand.
Time frame: Once a week during patient participation (9 weeks)
Subjective assessment of quality of life using a visual analog scale
The visual analog scale provides a self-report measure of the burden of symptoms and associated disability. Using a graduated, non-numerical scale the subject must move a cursor to the place that best represents their current quality of life. The examiner then transcribes the cursor position into a number between 0 and 10.
Time frame: Once a week during patient participation (9 weeks)
Subjective assessment of pain using a visual analog scale
The visual analog scale provides a self-report measure of the burden of symptoms and associated disability. Using a graduated, non-numerical scale the subject must move a cursor to the place that best represents their current pain intensity. The examiner then transcribes the cursor position into a number between 0 and 10.
Time frame: Once a week during patient participation (9 weeks)
Evaluation of the body's mental representation capacities using a laterality judgement task
An implicit motor imagery task involving judging the laterality of body parts will be used to evaluate the evolution of each patient's mental representation capacities via two parameters : the response time and the percentage of correct answers. This evaluation will be conducted using a computer program that presents photos of body parts in different postures and orientations. The patient must judge the laterality of each body part (for example: right or left hand, right or left foot).
Time frame: Once a week during patient participation (9 weeks) for the mental representation of the hand, once every 3 weeks for other body parts
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