The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Sensory Motor Training Therapy (Perfetti's method) vis-à-vis conventional occupational therapy in the recovery of arm function after acute stroke. Prospective randomized controlled trial. Two rehabilitation centers in Bangkok, Thailand. Forty first-time acute stroke patients without severe cognitive or language impairment. All subjects were randomly divided into two groups; one was treated using Perfetti's method and the other using conventional occupational therapy. Each group underwent therapy for 30 minutes, five times a week for four weeks. The primary variable was arm function as assessed by the Action Research Arm Test; secondary variables were the extended Barthel Index and the box and block test score. The intention-to-treat analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups at the end of treatment for any variable. There was no evidence of a difference between Cognitive Sensory Motor Training Therapy of Perfetti's method and conventional occupational therapy with respect to the restoration of hand and arm function after a stroke.