Can Video Self-Modeling Improve Affected Limb Reach and Grasp Ability in Stroke Patients?

ABSTRACT

The authors examined whether feedforward video self-modeling (FF VSM) would improve control over the affected limb, movement self-confidence, movement self-consciousness, and well-being in 18 stroke survivors. Participants completed a cup transport task and 2 questionnaires related to psychological processes pre- and postintervention. Pretest video footage of the unaffected limb performing the task was edited to create a best-of or mirror-reversed training DVD, creating the illusion that patients were performing proficiently with the affected limb. The training yielded significant improvements for the forward movement of the affected limb compared to the unaffected limb. Significant improvements were also seen in movement self-confidence, movement self-consciousness, and well-being. FF VSM appears to be a viable way to improve motor ability in populations with movement disorders.

Keywords:

• MSRS
• rehabilitation
• stroke
• video self-modeling
• well-being

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Nepean and Camden Hospitals for their assistance in recruiting participants for this study, in particular Sanzida Hoque and Sinead Lawler.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by a Western Sydney University SEED Grant for the first author (P00021130).