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After completing formal stroke rehabilitation programs, most patients do not achieve full upper limb motor function recovery. Music-supported Therapy (MST) can improve motor functionality post stroke through musical training. We designed a home-based enriched Music-supported Therapy (eMST) program to provide patients with chronic stroke the opportunity of continuing rehabilitation by themselves. We developed an app to conduct the eMST sessions at home with a MIDI-piano and percussion instruments. Here, we tested the feasibility of the eMST intervention using the novel app.

[EN]Abstract Background: Residual motor deficits of the upper limb in patients with chronic stroke are common and have a negative impact on autonomy, participation and quality of life. Music-Supported Therapy (MST) is an effective intervention to enhance motor and cognitive function, emotional well-being and quality of life in chronic stroke patients. We have adapted the original MST training protocol to a home-based intervention, which incorporates increased training intensity and variability, group sessions, and optimisation of learning to promote autonomy and motivation. Methods: A randomised controlled trial will be conducted to test the effectiveness of this enriched MST (eMST) protocol in improving motor functions, cognition, emotional well-being and quality of life of chronic stroke patients when compared to a program of home-based exercises utilizing the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP). Sixty stroke patients will be recruited and randomly allocated to an eMST group (n = 30) or a control GRASP intervention group (n = 30). Patients will be evaluated before and after a 10-week intervention, as well as at 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome of the study is the functionality of the paretic upper limb measured with the Action Research Arm Test. Secondary outcomes include other motor and cognitive functions, emotional well-being and quality of life measures as well as self-regulation and self-efficacy outcomes. Discussion: We hypothesize that patients treated with eMST will show larger improvements in their motor and cognitive functions, emotional well-being and quality of life than patients treated with a home-based GRASP intervention. Trial registration: The trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and identified as NCT04507542 on 8 August 2020

Introduction: deontological codes serve as a guide for ethical practices of the profession. The growing presence of occupational therapists in Cataluña, as well as the need to have a code adapted to local circumstances, led the Professional Association of Occupational Therapists of Cataluña to create their own deontological code. The objective of this article is to describe the methodology for elaborating the deontological code of the Professional Association of Occupational Therapists of Cataluña. Methods: along a process of 43 months, a committee delegated by governing board of the association was commissioned to elaborate the code through different stages: a bibliographic review and the creation of a theoretical framework, a definition of the code structure, the drafting of articles, the writing of a preamble, the revision of the code, the drafting of the legislative framework, the approval of the code in assembly, the editing of the document and presentation of the same. Conclusion: the discussion of the article explains the main strengths and limitations during the creation of the code, as well as the lines of future work so as to disseminate the document., Introducción: los códigos deontológicos sirven de guía en el ejercicio ético de la profesión. La creciente presencia de terapeutas ocupacionales en Cataluña, así como la necesidad de disponer de un código adaptado a la realidad local, llevaron al Colegi de Terapeutes Ocupacionals de Catalunya a la creación de un código deontológico propio. Este artículo tiene como objetivo describir la metodología de trabajo para la elaboración del código deontológico del Colegi de Terapeutes Ocupacionals de Catalunya. Método: a lo largo de un proceso de 43 meses, una comisión delegada de la junta de gobierno del colegio fue la encargada de elaborar el código a través de diferentes etapas: revisión bibliográfica y creación del marco teórico, definición de la estructura del código, redacción de los artículos, redacción del preámbulo, revisión del código, redacción del marco legislativo, aprobación del código en asamblea, edición del documento y presentación del mismo. Conclusión: en la discusión del artículo, se exponen las principales fortalezas y limitaciones en la elaboración del código así como las líneas de trabajo futuro para divulgar y dinamizar el documento.

In the Play&Sing project, we are developing an AI platform to support home-based self-training interventions for chronic stroke patients. A large percentage of patients suffering from this disease show motor deficits that clearly hinder their daily activities and diminish their quality of life. In this project we are proposing and testing a new Music Supported Therapy (MST) to induce upper limb motor recovery.With the help of a tablet-based application and a small musical keyboard, we are developing an AI platform to support home-based MST. Specifically, the role of AI algorithms is to support therapists and to boost user engagement by personalizing the interventions according to patient needs and preferences. AI algorithms will provide the therapists with hindsight and foresight tools. In the proposed MST, patients are performing 30 training sessions of 45 minutes with a frequency of 3 sessions per week. In this paper we present our platform and preliminary experiments conducted at a pilot phase.

[EN]In the Play&Sing project, we are developing an AI platform to support home-based self-training interventions for chronic stroke patients. A large percentage of patients suffering from this disease show motor deficits that clearly hinder their daily activities and diminish their quality of life. In this project we are proposing and testing a new Music Supported Therapy (MST) to induce upper limb motor recovery.With the help of a tablet-based application and a small musical keyboard, we are developing an AI platform to support home-based MST. Specifically, the role of AI algorithms is to support therapists and to boost user engagement by personalizing the interventions according to patient needs and preferences. AI algorithms will provide the therapists with hindsight and foresight tools. In the proposed MST, patients are performing 30 training sessions of 45 minutes with a frequency of 3 sessions per week. In this paper we present our platform and preliminary experiments conducted at a pilot phase.