Approaches in physical therapy to unilateral spatial neglect

Abstract

This paper presents the assessment and therapeutic approaches to unilateral spatial neglect from the view of physical therapy. In characteristics, the symptoms of spatial neglect are different in type and severity and show complexity with hemianopia or other complications. In assessment, the importance of comparing several pencil and paper tests is pointed out and the observation of influence of spatial neglect on posture and movements of patients, as well as understanding the mental status of their family. In therapeutic approaches, what to do in consideration of the characteristics and the object of intervention needs to be decided. Furthermore, in addition to conventional techniques, recently introduced methods are applying focus on sensory-motor plastic stimulation as prism adaptation and the side mirror approach.