Constraint-induced movement therapy during early stroke rehabilitation. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Limited data are available about the effectiveness of early rehabilitation after stroke. OBJECTIVE: This is the 1st randomized controlled trial of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in subacute stroke to investigate neurophysiologic mechanisms and long-term outcome. METHODS: Within 2 weeks after stroke, 23 patients with upper extremity (UE) weakness were randomized to 2 weeks of CIMT or traditional therapy at an equal frequency of up to 3 h/day. Motor function of the affected UE was blindly assessed before treatment, after treatment, and 3 months after stroke. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measured the cortical area evoking movement of the affected hand. RESULTS: Long-term improvement in motor function of the affected UE did not differ significantly between patients who received CIMT versus intensive traditional therapy. All outcome comparisons showed trends favoring CIMT over intensive traditional therapy, but none was statistically significant except for improvements in the Fugl-Meyer (FM) UE motor scale immediately following treatment and in reported quality of hand function at 3 months. Improvement in UE motor function on the FM was associated with a greater number of sites on the affected cerebral hemisphere where responses of the affected hand were evoked by TMS. CONCLUSIONS: Future trials of CIMT during early stroke rehabilitation need greater statistical power, more inclusive eligibility criteria, and improved experimental control over treatment intensity. The relationship between changes in motor function and in evoked motor responses suggests that motor recovery during the 1st 3 months after stroke is associated with increased motor excitability of the affected cerebral hemisphere.

publication date

  • January 1, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Exercise Therapy
  • Stroke Rehabilitation

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 33845528179

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1177/1545968306291858

PubMed ID

  • 17172550

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 21

issue

  • 1