title: Can Short-Term Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Combined With Visual Biofeedback Training Improve Hemiplegic Upper Limb Function of Subacute Stroke Patients?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To Investigate the synergic effects of short-term constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and visual biofeedback training (VBT) in subacute stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two subacute stroke patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of three groups: short-term CIMT with VBT, VBT only, and control groups. We applied CIMT for an hour daily during VBT instead of the ordinary restraint time, referred to as 'short-term' CIMT. Short-term CIMT with VBT group received simultaneous VBT with CIMT, whereas the VBT the only group received VBT without CIMT for an hour a day for 2 weeks. The control group received conventional occupational therapy (OT) alone. Patients underwent the Purdue Pegboard Test, the JAMAR grip strength test, the Wolf Motor Function Test, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (upper extremity), Motricity index and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index test to evaluate motor functions of the hemiplegic upper limb at baseline, post-treatment, and 2 weeks after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed between short-term CIMT with VBT and VBT only groups. Both groups showed significantly higher scores compared to the control group in the WMFT and FMA tests. However, the short-term CIMT with VBT group showed significant improvement (p<0.05) compared with the control group in both grasp and pad pinch at post-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment while the VBT only group did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term CIMT with VBT group did not show significant improvement of hemiplegic upper limb function of subacute stroke patients, compared to VBT only group. Larger sample sizes and different restraint times would be needed to clarify the effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7266-6045
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seok
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Yeol
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1571-9408
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jihoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6843-3724
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jungho
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8583-2943
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyungdong
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8599-4822
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Biofeedback; Constraint-induced movement therapy; Stroke