Effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy in chronic stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in dexterity with Action Research Arm Test (ARA test), hand grip strength, pinch strength of affected upper extremity in chronic stroke patients.


METHODS
An observer-blinded randomized control trial, 69 chronic stroke patients were allocated either to constraint-induced movement technique (n = 33) or conservative treatment (n = 36). The CIMT group received 6 hours of daily affected-upper-extremity training and restrained unaffected upper extremities for 5 days per week, totally 2 weeks. The control group received bimanual-upper-extremity training by conservative neurodevelopmental technique without restrained unaffected upper extremities for 2 weeks.


RESULTS
The CIMT group had ARA scores, pinch strength of affected upper extremities statistically significant higher than the control group at p < 0.05, but the hand grip strength had no statistically significant difference, p > 0.05.


CONCLUSIONS
CIMT of unaffected upper extremities has an advantage for chronic stroke patients which may be an efficacious technique of improving motor activity and exhibiting learned nonuse.
Suputtitada
Areerat
A
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. sareerat@hotmail.com
Suwanwela
Nijasri C
NC
Tumvitee
Suwita
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity