title: Efficacy of modified constraint-induced movement therapy in acute stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modified constraint induced movement therapy (m-CIMT) discourages the use of the unaffected extremity and encourages the active use of the hemiplegic arm in order to restore the motor function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to assess the efficacy of m-CIMT on functional recovery of upper extremity (UE) in acute stroke patients, as compared to conventional rehabilitation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included sixty patients with acute stroke recruited from neurology department.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included sixty acute stroke patients. Inclusion criteria were: patients within two weeks from the onset of stroke, persistent hemiparesis leading to impaired upper extremity function, evidence of preserved cognitive function, and a minimum of 10 degrees of active finger extension and 20 degrees of active wrist extension. Exclusion criteria were: intra-cerebral hemorrhage, previous stroke on the same side, presence of neglect or a degree of aphasia impeding understanding of instructions, and conditions that limit the use of the upper limb before the stroke. Patients were assessed by Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), action research arm test (ARAT) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs), recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) of the affected hand. The clinical and neurophysiological tests were performed pre and postrehabilitation. The patients were divided into two groups: Conventional rehabilitation program group (CRP) included 30 patients who were given a conventional rehabilitation program for two weeks. CIMT group included 30 patients who were subjected to modified CIMT for two consecutive weeks. Total treatment time was the same in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRP group showed a non-significant improvement in FMA and ARAT. CIMT group showed a significant improvement in clinical scores on all tests (P<0.05). When comparing both groups using FMA and ARAT tests pre- and post- therapy, a significant difference (P<0.05) was found between both groups with CIMT group showing greater improvement. When comparing MEPs in CRP group, pre and postrehabilitation, a non-significant improvement was found for resting motor threshold (RMT), central motor conduction time (CMCT) and amplitude of MEPs. In contrast, each of the MEP parameters exhibited a significant improvement in CIMT group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to conventional rehabilitation therapy, modified CIMT revealed a significant functional and MEP improvement in acute stroke patients indicating that m-CIMT might be a more efficient treatment strategy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is advised to use modified constraint movement therapy in rehabilitation of cerebrovascular stroke during acute stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Ain Shams University, Egypt - mmfathalla@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: El-Helow
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zamzam
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fathalla
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Badawy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Nahhas
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: El-Nabil
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Von Wild
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation