Effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on reach-to-grasp movements and functional performance after chronic stroke: a randomized controlled study

• Published in: Clinical rehabilitation Vol. 21; no. 12; pp. 1075 - 1086
• Main Authors: Lin, K.-C., Wu, C.-Y., Wei, T.-H., Gung, Chang, Lee, C.-Y., Liu, J.-S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2007; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Accidents; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Disease; Clinical trials; Female; Functional impairment; Functional performance; Group therapy; Hand Strength; Humans; Induced; Kinematics; Limbs; Male; Middle Aged; Motor activity; Movement therapy; Occupational therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Restraint, Physical; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Training; Treatment Outcome; Upper Extremity - physiology; Taiwan
• ISSN: 0269-2155; 1477-0873
• DOI: 10.1177/0269215507079843

Objective: To evaluate changes in (1) motor control characteristics of the hemiparetic hand during the performance of a functional reach-to-grasp task and (2) functional performance of daily activities in patients with stroke treated with modified constraint-induced movement therapy. Design: Two-group randomized controlled trial with pretreatment and posttreatment measures. Setting: Rehabilitation clinics. Subjects: Thirty-two chronic stroke patients (21 men, 11 women; mean age=57.9 years, range=43—81 years) 13—26 months (mean 16.3 months) after onset of a first-ever cerebrovascular accident. Intervention: Thirty-two patients were randomized to receive modified constraint-induced movement therapy (restraint of the unaffected limb combined with intensive training of the affected limb) or traditional rehabilitation for three weeks. Main measures: Kinematic analysis was used to assess motor control characteristics as patients reached to grasp a beverage can. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Motor Activity Log and Functional Independence Measure. Results: There were moderate and significant effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on some aspects of motor control of reach-to-grasp and on functional ability. The modified constraint-induced movement therapy group preplanned reaching and grasping (P=0.018) more efficiently and depended more on the feedforward control of reaching (P=0.046) than did the traditional rehabilitation group. The modified constraint-induced movement therapy group also showed significantly improved functional performance on the Motor Activity Log (P<0.0001) and the Functional Independence Measure (P=0.016). Conclusions: In addition to improving functional use of the affected arm and daily functioning, modified constraint-induced movement therapy improved motor control strategy during goal-directed reaching, a possible mechanism for the improved movement performance of stroke patients undergoing this therapy.