Affiliations: Brain Research and Rehabilitation Center Neuron,
Kuopio, Finland | Department of Neurology, University of Kuopio,
Finland | Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive
Neuroscience University of Turku, Finland
Note: [] Corresponding author: Riitta Luukkainen-Markkula, MA., Brain
Research and Rehabilitation Center Neuron, Kortejoki, 71130 Kuopio, Finland.
Tel.: +358 17 460 291; Fax: +358 17 460 200; E-mail:
riitta.luukkainen-markkula@neuron.fi
Abstract: Purpose: Hemispatial neglect, a failure to orient to the
contralateral side of the lesion, is a disabling disorder after stroke.
Previously arm activation combined with visual training or visual scanning
training were found effective in rehabilitation of hemispatial neglect. The aim
of this study was to determine whether left arm activation alone could be
sufficient to produce a long lasting amelioration of neglect comparable to the
effect obtained with traditional visual scanning training. Methods: Twelve neglect patients less than six months from stroke
were randomized either into 20–30 hours of left arm activation training
or 10 hours of traditional visual scanning training as a part of a
comprehensive rehabilitation program. All patients received 48~hours of therapy
during the 3-week rehabilitation. Results: Visual neglect of the arm activation group recovered
significantly in the conventional subtests of the Behavioural Inattention Test
both post-rehabilitation and at 6-months follow-up. The improvement of the
visual scanning training group was almost significant at the end of the
rehabilitation and significant by the follow-up. The behavioural neglect
observed in the Catherine Bergego Scale was alleviated nearly significantly at
the post-rehabilitation in both groups. The effect was maintained in the arm
activation group at 6-months. Conlusion: The arm activation training appears beneficial even
without supplementary visual neglect rehabilitation, although the traditional
visual scanning training may have further effects in cognition.
