A Systematic Review on Strategy Training: A Novel Standardized Occupational Therapy Program for Apraxia Patients to Perform Activities of Daily Living

Abstract

Apraxia is a cognitive-motor planning disorder that expresses itself as an inability to perform purposeful and skilled movements in the absence of sensory or motor loss and hampers patients' ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). ADL is a set of everyday tasks required for personal care and independent living, executed through a complex interaction between sensorimotor integration and motor learning. We have designed a 'Strategy training' program for apraxia patients by reviewing the existing clinical trial literature on the above-said topic per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Strategy training is an evidence-based standardized occupational therapy program to improve ADL in apractic patients by teaching them a variety of compensatory strategies to combat impairment and improve activity performance. Three basic steps of strategy training include: 1) initiation-development of an action plan, 2) execution-performance of the plan, and 3) control-assessment and result of action performed. The patient group suggested for strategy training comprises post-stroke (past 20 weeks) apraxia patients aged 40-90 years of both genders, highly motivated and fit to perform ADL. After preliminary assessment, 'strategy training' will be specifically executed through an exclusively visual feedback approach in which apraxia patients learn eight ADLs in 8 weeks (three sessions of 30 minutes/week for 8 weeks). They practice two ADLs for 15 minutes each in every session, thus a total of six sessions will be allocated to learn two ADLs simultaneously followed by the next set of ADLs. Strategy training for brushing teeth is described in detail to show how each step of this training program is implemented for a specific ADL. As this strategy training program is based on individual care, attention, and augmenting motivational aspects, it is expected to teach patients compensatory strategies to learn and perform ADL more smoothly, swiftly, and most importantly independently. The program is not aimed at treating clinical motor symptoms of apraxia per se but to help patients function more independently post apractic motor impairment.