SynthesisBMC neurology2019
Action observation training for rehabilitation in brain injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC neurology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 4 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 26 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effects of Action Observation Training Combined With Exercises on Balance and Risk of Fall Over 65 Years Old
Effectiveness of Action Observation Therapy Based on Virtual Reality Technology in Motor Rehabilitation of Paretic Stroke Patients: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Action Observation Tele-rehabilitation for Upper Limb in Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
Neurophysiological, Kinematics and Functional Correlates of Goal-directed Action Observation and Execution in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 68 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy of Action Observation Therapy on Cognitive Function in Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Brain and behavior · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of Mirror Neurons-Based Rehabilitation Techniques in Hand Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Cortical hemodynamic responses during action observation with and without audiovisual stimuli: a randomized controlled experimental trial.Experimental brain research · 2026Trial
- Effectiveness of the home-based training program Tele-UPCAT (Tele-monitored UPper Limb Children Action Observation Training) in unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine · 2023Trial
- Effectiveness of action observation therapy based on virtual reality technology in the motor rehabilitation of paretic stroke patients: a randomized clinical trial.BMC neurology · 2022Trial
- Effects of Meaningful Action Observation Therapy on Occupational Performance, Upper Limb Function, and Corticospinal Excitability Poststroke: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial.Neural plasticity · 2022Trial
- Applications of ICF-Based Assessments and Interventions in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review.NeuroRehabilitation · 2026Review
- Structural brain lesions and action observation therapy outcomes in unilateral cerebral palsy: an exploratory study.Frontiers in systems neuroscience · 2026Article
- Effects and mechanisms of synchronous virtual reality action observation and electrical stimulation on upper extremity motor function and activities of daily living in patients with stroke: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- Review
- Neural basis of lower-limb visual feedback therapy: an EEG study in healthy subjects.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2024Article
- Activation of Cerebellum, Basal Ganglia and Thalamus During Observation and Execution of Mouth, hand, and foot Actions.Brain topography · 2023Article
- Differences in Cortical Area Activity and Motor Imagery Vivid-Ness during Evaluation of Motor Imagery Tasks in Right and Left Hemiplegics.Brain sciences · 2023Article
- Principles into Practice: An Observational Study of Physiotherapists use of Motor Learning Principles in Stroke Rehabilitation.Physiotherapy · 2023Observational
- Cortical activation of neuromuscular electrical stimulation synchronized mirror neuron rehabilitation strategies: an fNIRS study.Frontiers in neurology · 2023Article
- A Method for Using Video Presentation to Increase Cortical Region Activity during Motor Imagery Tasks in Stroke Patients.Brain sciences · 2022Article
- The effect of combined Action Observation Therapy with eccentric exercises in the treatment of mid-portion Achilles-tendinopathy: a feasibility pilot randomised controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2022Article
- Effectiveness of Therapies Based on Mirror Neuron System to Treat Gait in Patients with Parkinson's Disease-A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Review
- Influence of combined action observation and motor imagery of walking on lower limb reflex modulation in patients after stroke-preliminary results.BMC research notes · 2022Article
- A method for using video presentation to increase the vividness and activity of cortical regions during motor imagery tasks.Neural regeneration research · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTo systematically review and analyse the effects of Action Observation Training on adults and children with brain damage.
methodsSeven electronic databases (Cochrane, EBSCO, Embase, Eric, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched up to 16 September 2018 to select Randomized Controlled Trials focused on adults and children with brain damage that included AOT training on upper and/or lower limb carried out for at least 1 week. Identification of studies and data extraction was conducted with two reviewers working independently. Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine (March2009) - Levels of Evidence and Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale were used to grade studies. The data collected from the articles were analysed using software R, version 3.4.3. Hedge's g values were calculated and effect size estimates were pooled across studies. Separate meta-analyses were carried out for each ICF domain (i.e. body function and activity) for upper and lower limb.
resultsOut of the 210 records identified after removing duplicates, 22 were selected for systematic review and 19 were included in the meta-analysis. Thirteen studies included in the meta-analysis focused on upper limb rehabilitation (4 in children and 9 in adults) and 6 on lower limb rehabilitation (only studies in adults). A total of 626 patients were included in the meta-analysis. An overall statistically significant effect size was found for upper limb body function (0.44, 95% CI: [0.24, 0.64], p < 0.001) and upper limb activity domain (0.47, 95% CI: [0.30, 0.64], p < 0.001). For lower limb, only the activity domain was analysed, revealing a statistically significant overall effect size (0.56, 95% CI: [0.28, 0.84], p < 0.001).
conclusionsAction Observation Training (AOT) is an innovative rehabilitation tool for individuals with brain damage, which shows promising results in improving the activity domain for upper and lower limbs, and also the body function domain for the upper limb. However, the examined studies lack uniformity and further well-designed, larger controlled trials are necessary to determine the most suitable type of AOT particularly in children. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: CRD42019119600.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.