Stroke patients' and therapists' opinions of constraint-induced movement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the opinions of patients with stroke and therapists about constraint-induced movement therapy (CIT).


METHODS
Two hundred and eight patients with stroke in the northeastern USA responded to a self-report questionnaire administered through the mail and via telephone interviews. A similar questionnaire was administered to 85 physical and occupational therapists in the northeastern USA during their clinical staff meetings. The questionnaire described CIT to participants using excerpts from a recently published CIT study. Subjects then responded to various statements concerning their opinions of the protocol and supplied rationale for their opinions.


RESULTS
Sixty-eight per cent of patients said they were not interested in participating in CIT, citing concerns with the practice schedule and the restrictive device schedule. Therapists cited concerns about patient adherence and safety, and speculated that facilities may not have the clinical resources to provide CIT.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with stroke and therapists in some environments may hold sceptical views about the utility of CIT. Although it has been shown to be effective in laboratory research, CIT may have low clinical practicality in some environments.
Page
Stephen J
SJ
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation (KMRREC), West Orange NJ 07052, USA. spage@kmrrec.org
Levine
Peter
P
Sisto
SueAnn
S
Bond
Quin
Q
Johnston
Mark V
MV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation