ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of Interactive Metronome (IM) intervention on attention, upper extremity function, activities of daily living (ADL), fall efficacy, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with stroke.Methods: This study employed a single-blind randomized controlled design involving 20 patients with stroke. The experimental group received conventional occupational therapy combined with IM intervention. The control group received conventional occupational therapy and task-oriented bilateral upper extremity training. Both groups underwent 20 sessions over four weeks. The following assessments were used DST, MFT, K-MBI, SS-QOL, BBS, and K-FES.Results: The experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in attention, upper extremity function, ADL, balance ability, fall efficacy, and all QOL domains except vision (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). The control group demonstrated significant improvements in attention, upper extremity function, balance, and fall efficacy (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). A comparison of change scores between the two groups showed that the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in attention, ADL, and overall QOL (p < 0.01, p < 0.001).Conclusion: The IM intervention, reconstructed with consideration of patients with stroke characteristics, may serve as a clinically useful guideline.