Effects of Perfetti's Method on Cognition, Dexterity and Sensory Motor Function of the Upper Extremity in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Tria

Abstract

Background: A stroke is the sudden loss of neural function caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. It causes symptoms such as paresis, hypoesthesia, cognitive impairment, and spasticity. Objective(s): To compare the effects of Perfetti's Method versus routine physical therapy on the upper extremities' cognition, dexterity, and sensorimotor function in stroke patients. Methodology: In this study, 74 stroke participants were enrolled and randomized into two groups by the Goldfish Bowl Procedure, with 37 patients in each group. Group A was treated with routine physical therapy, and Group B was treated with Perfetti's Method and routine physical therapy. The measurements of both groups were recorded at the beginning of the study and after the 12th post-treatment week. Sensorimotor function was measured with the Fugal-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), dexterity was measured with the Box and Block Test (BBT), and level of cognition was measured with the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) in both groups at the beginning of the study and after the end of training (12th post-treatment weak). Results: According to this study, 74 participants had a mean age of 53.21±12.02; males were 45(60.8%), and females were 29(40.2%). The mean Body Mass Index was 23.23±3.47. The right side was affected by 32(43.2%), and Left Side was affected by 42(56.8%). Sensorimotor Function mean was Pre-treatment 66.70±26.88 and posttreatment 110.09±11.91. The level of cognition mean was pre-treatment 22.62±3.30 and post-treatment 29.31±1.47. Dexterity means Pre-treatment was 8.18±11.64 and posttreatment was 84.48±15.03. P-Value was 0.00, which was <0.005, which means that there was a significant difference between the mean value of pre-treatment and post-treatment Sensorimotor function, Level of Cognition, and Dexterity. There was a significant difference between the mean values of Groups A and B in sensorimotor function, level of cognition, and dexterity, as the P-values were 0.027, 0.04, and 0.02, respectively. Conclusion: Perfetti's Method, combined with routine physical therapy, resulted in significantly improved cognition levels, dexterity and sensory motor function in the upper extremity of stroke patients compared to those receiving only routine physical therapy.