Effects of a single session action observation training on hand function in healthy young adults: a randomised controlled assessor and participants-blinded trial.

Purpose: The aim was to investigate the effects of a single session action observation training (AOT) on hand function and evaluate whether observing self-actions would be more effective than observing someone else.

Materials and methods: A total of 60 right-handed healthy young adults, (32 female, 28 males and the mean age was 21.32 ± 1.07 years) were included in the study. The participants were randomly divided into five groups, self-action observation (sAO), observation of a third person (AO), action practice (AP), non-action observation (nAO), and control. A single session was performed for all participants. The primary outcome was the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) assessed by a masked assessor.

Results: Significant differences were observed between the sAO and control group in total left side JTHFT performance (p < 0.001). Additionally, there were significant differences between the AO and control group (p < 0.001), and AP and nAO group (p = 0.003) and AP and control group (p < 0.001) in total JTHFT performance change of the left side. Significant differences were found between the sAO and nAO (p = 0.001) and control groups (p < 0.001) in dominant side total JTHFT performance change. No difference between sAO and AP groups were observed (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: It was observed that a single session of action observation training improved hand function in healthy adults. The better performance achieved in the group watching the self-video may suggest that watching the self-image activates more mirror neurons.