A randomized controlled trial of Cognitive Sensory Motor Training Therapy on the recovery of arm function in acute stroke patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Sensory Motor Training Therapy (Perfetti's method) vis-a-vis conventional occupational therapy in the recovery of arm function after acute stroke. Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting: Two rehabilitation centers in Bangkok, Thailand. Subjects: Forty first-time acute stroke patients without severe cognitive or language impairment. Intervention: All subjects were randomly divided into two groups; one was treated using Perfetti's method and the other using conventional occupational therapy. Each group underwent therapy for 30 minutes, five times a week for four weeks. Main measures: The primary variable was arm function as assessed by the Action Research Arm Test; secondary variables were the extended Barthel Index and the box and block test score. Results: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups at the end of treatment for any variable. Conclusions: There was no evidence of a difference between Cognitive Sensory Motor Training Therapy of Perfetti's method and conventional occupational therapy with respect to the restoration of hand and arm function after a stroke.