title: The effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy combined with trunk restraint in subacute stroke: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of a modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) with trunk restraint in subacute stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen subacute stroke patients with moderate motor impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were treated with either mCIMT combined with trunk restraint or mCIMT for 5 days per week for 4 weeks. The mCIMT combined with trunk restraint group participated in structured intervention sessions for use of the more affected upper-extremity in task-oriented activities with trunk restraint for 1 hour per day, and with the less affected upper-extremity restrained for 5 hours per day weeks. The mCIMT group followed the same protocol without trunk restraint.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outcome measures included the action research arm test (ARAT), the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), the modified Barthel index (MBI), the motor activity log (MAL) and the maximal elbow extension angle during reaching (MEEAR) were completed at baseline and post intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mCIMT combined with trunk restraint group exhibited more improved in the ARAT, FMA, MBI, MAL and MEEAR compared with the mCIMT group. Statistical analyses showed significantly different in ARAT (P = 0.046), FMA (P = 0.008), MBI (P = 0.001), MAL-AOU (P = 0.024), MAL-QOM (P = 0.010) and MEEAR (P = 0.001) between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that mCIMT combined with trunk restraint is more helpful to improve upper-extremity function than mCIMT only in subacute stroke patients with moderate motor impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Hyouk
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea Department of Physical Therapy, Natural Science College, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea shinws@dju.kr.
authors.forename: Won-Seob
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: Modified constraint-induced movement therapy; subacute stroke; trunk restraint; upper-extremity function