The efficacy of intensified sensory therapy on upper extremity functions and activities of daily living in patients with chronic stroke: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of intensified sensory therapy on upper extremity functions, daily activity and life quality of stroke survivors (SS). Methodology: This randomized controlled trial included 30 chronic SS (18 males - 12 females) who were treated at Kocaeli University Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation between May 2022 and September 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to a Sensory-Training Group (STG; n = 15; mean age= 59.07±12.73 years) and a Control Group (CG; n = 15; mean age= 56.53±13.80 years). Both groups received 15 sessions of 30 minutes of physical therapy, occupational therapy (OT), and 20 minutes of activity daily living (ADL) training for three weeks. The STG also received intensified sensory therapy during each session. Thumb localization, finger shift, and stereognosis tests were performed in both groups only before the start of treatment. The Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), Modified Frenchay Scale (MFS), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), and Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) were administered before and after treatment. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between STG and CG in all parameters of the MFS, JTHFT, COPM (performance and satisfaction), GAS, and all parameters of SS-QOL except for the language, thinking, and seeing parameters. Conclusion: These results suggest that sensory therapies applied with conventional treatments increased upper extremity functions, ADL performance, participation rate and quality of life of the SS.