Effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on performance of stroke patients: clinical analysis

NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Improving is not 100% recovery.

Effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on performance of stroke patients: clinical analysis

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K.-C. Lin, C.-Y. Wu, T.-H. Wei, ...

First Published December 1, 2007 Research Article Find in PubMed

https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215507079843

Article information

   

Abstract

Objective: 

To evaluate changes in (1) motor control characteristics of the hemiparetic hand during the performance of a functional reach-to-grasp task and (2) functional performance of daily activities in patients with stroke treated with modified constraint-induced movement therapy.

Design: 

Two-group randomized controlled trial with pretreatment and posttreatment measures.

Setting: 

Rehabilitation clinics.

Subjects: 

Thirty-two chronic stroke patients (21 men, 11 women; mean age=57.9 years, range=43—81 years) 13—26 months (mean 16.3 months) after onset of a first-ever cerebrovascular accident.

Intervention: 

Thirty-two patients were randomized to receive modified constraint-induced movement therapy (restraint of the unaffected limb combined with intensive training of the affected limb) or traditional rehabilitation for three weeks.

Main measures: 

Kinematic analysis was used to assess motor control characteristics as patients reached to grasp a beverage can. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Motor Activity Log and Functional Independence Measure.

Results: 

There were moderate and significant effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on some aspects of motor control of reach-to-grasp and on functional ability. The modified constraint-induced movement therapy group preplanned reaching and grasping (P=0.018) more efficiently and depended more on the feedforward control of reaching (P=0.046) than did the traditional rehabilitation group. The modified constraint-induced movement therapy group also showed significantly improved functional performance on the Motor Activity Log (P<0.0001) and the Functional Independence Measure (P=0.016).

Conclusions: 

In addition to improving functional use of the affected arm and daily functioning, modified constraint-induced movement therapy improved motor control strategy during goal-directed reaching, a possible mechanism for the improved movement performance of stroke patients undergoing this therapy.