title: Recovery of upper extremity motor function post stroke with regard to eligibility for constraint-induced movement therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine eligibility for modalities such as constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and modified CIMT (mCIMT) in the subacute phase after stroke and to define the share of patients who should be offered this treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, repeated-measures design was used. A total of 100 consecutive patients with arm paresis 1 to 2 weeks post stroke were screened. Eligible for CIMT were patients who were cognitively intact, medically stable, and able to extend the wrist and 3 fingers 10° as a lower limit. The active range of motion was registered, and motor function was assessed by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and the Nine Hole Peg Test at 1 to 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months post stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 100 patients, 54 were excluded from motor assessment, mostly due to cognitive impairments. Of the remaining 46 patients, 21 (46%) were eligible according to motor function of the hand at 1 to 2 weeks post stroke, whereas in the other patients motor function was either too good or too poor. The share of patients eligible declined to 31% after 4 weeks and 15% after 3 months. Within 3 months, 60% reached reasonable dexterity, expressed by an ARAT score ≯ 51, all receiving standard rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that eligibility for CIMT or mCIMT should not be considered before 4 weeks post stroke because much improvement in arm function was shown to occur during the first month post stroke with standard rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Iris Charlotte
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Jan Sture
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Skouen
authors.forename: Liv Inger
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Strand
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*