Action observation plus motor imagery and somatosensory discrimination training are effective non-motor approaches to improve manual dexterity.

Background: Action observation plus motor imagery (AOMI) and somatosensory discrimination training (SSDT) represent sensory input-based approaches to train the motor system without necessarily asking subjects to perform active movements.

Purpose: To investigate AOMI and SSDT effects compared to no intervention on manual dexterity in healthy subjects.

Study Design: Randomized controlled study.

Methods: Sixty healthy right-handed participants were randomized into AOMI, SSDT or Control (CTRL) groups. AOMI observed video-clips including right-hand dexterity tasks and concurrently performed motor imagery, SSDT performed surfaces recognition and 2-point distance discrimination tasks with the right hand, whereas CTRL underwent no intervention. A blinded physiotherapist assessed participants for manual dexterity using the Purdue Pegboard Test (Right hand-R, Left hand-L, Both hands-B, R+L+B and assembly tasks) at baseline (T0) and training end (T1). A mixed-design Analysis of Variance with Time as within-subject factor and Group as between-subject factor was used to investigate between-group differences over time.

Results: A Time by Group interaction and Time effect were found for R task, which increased from T0 to T1 in all groups with very large effect sizes for SSDT (d = 1.8, CI 2.4-1.0, P < .001) and AOMI (d = 1.7, CI 2.5-1.0, P < .001) and medium effect size for CTRL (d = 0.6, CI 1.2-0.2, P < .001). Between-group post-hoc comparison for deltas (T1-T0) showed large effect size (d = 1.0, CI 1.6-0.3, P = .003) in favor of SSDT and medium effect size (d = 0.7, CI 1.4-0.1, P = .026) in favor of AOMI compared to CTRL. Time effects were found for L, B, R + L + B and assembly tasks (P < .001).

Conclusions: AOMI and SSDT induced greater manual dexterity improvements than no intervention. These findings supported the role of visual and somatosensory stimuli in building a motor plan and enhancing the accuracy of hand movements. These non-motor approaches may enhance motor performance in job or hobbies requiring marked manual dexterity.