The Impact of NEURO-15 on Performance Skills and Related Factors in Activities of Daily Living in Patients in the Chronic Phase of Stroke

• Published in: Asian Journal of Occupational Therapy 2018, Vol.14(1), pp.43-52
• Main Authors: Yamane, Shingo, Urushidani, Naoki, Tamashiro, Hiroaki, Kurushima, Takashi, Abo, Masahiro, Okamoto, Takatsugu, Hanaoka, Hideaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AMPS; cerebrovascular disease; NEURO-15
• ISSN: 1347-3476; 1347-3484
• DOI: 10.11596/asiajot.14.43

NEURO-15 is a 15-day program that combines low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy for patients with chronic hemiparesis following stroke. Though the evaluation of upper-limb function has been used in the past to verify the effects of NEURO-15, the reacquisition of performance skills required for daily living has not been sufficiently evaluated. Therefore, we conducted this study with an objective of clarifying the effectiveness of NEURO-15 from the viewpoint of regaining performance skills in daily living. We conducted the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) and evaluated upper-limb function before and after NEURO-15 to evaluate performance skills in activities of daily living (ADL) in 20 patients with chronic hemiparesis after stroke. Our results found that not only upper-limb function performance, but also ADL performance skills changed significantly. Significant difference was found in the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) log performance time, the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF), and paralysis of the dominant hand between those who improved and not improved on the AMPS. In particular, the results of this study on dominant hands would be a key findings for applying NEURO-15. This study showed the effectiveness of NEURO-15 in patients with chronic hemiparesis after stroke from the viewpoint of regaining performance skills.