Action Observation Therapy in Chronic Stroke

Functional impairment in the upper extremities is one of the most common sequelae in stroke patients. It significantly limits the patients' grasping-releasing functions and, consequently, their activities of daily living (ADL), such as eating - drinking, dressing, and self-care. Action Observation Training (AOT), performed by observing simple actions frequently used in ADL and then imitating the observed actions, reduces interhemispheric inhibition and allows the elimination of impairments in upper extremity motor function and relearning of functions in chronic stroke patients. This study aims to investigate the effects of telerehabilitation and face-to-face AOT application on upper extremity functions, activities of daily living, and quality of life in chronic stroke patients and to question whether there are differences between the short- and long-term effects of these two AOT applications.