Effects of Prism Adaptation on Unilateral Neglect After Stroke

Abstract

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prism adaptation (PA) on unilateral neglect after stroke. Methods Randomized clinical trials, published up to January 31, 2020, comparing PA with neutral goggles or no goggles were systematically searched and included. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed the quality of studies using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Results A total of seven randomized trials, involving 211 participants, satisfied the inclusion criteria. There was no significant immediate benefit of PA as measured by Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) (weighted mean difference [WMD], 5.10; [95% confidence interval (CI), −6.68 to 16.88]), behavioral subset (BIT-B; WMD, 3.40 [95% CI, −3.97 to 10.76), conventional subset (BIT-C; WMD, 9.98 [95% CI, −0.42 to 20.38]), and Catherine Bergego Scale (WMD, −0.52 [95% CI, −1.98 to 0.93]). No statistical difference was observed between PA and control on the long-term effect (BIT: WMD, 1.92 [95% CI, −9.34 to 13.18]; BIT-B: WMD, −3.28 [95% CI, −11.89 to 5.34]; BIT-C: WMD, 2.66 [95% CI, −10.35 to 11.67]; Catherine Bergego Scale: WMD, −1.22 [95% CI, −3.05 to 0.62]). Conclusions PA did not show a greater improvement on neglect symptoms in post-stroke patients with unilateral neglect, compared with placebo or no treatment. These findings do not support the routine use of PA in patients with unilateral neglect after stroke.