Stroke patients' and therapists' opinions of constraint-induced movement therapy

To determine the opinions of patients with stroke and therapists about constraint-induced movement therapy (CIT).

Two hundred and eight patients with stroke in the northeastern USA responded to a self-report questionnaire administered through the mail and via telephone interviews. A similar questionnaire was administered to 85 physical and occupational therapists in the northeastern USA during their clinical staff meetings. The questionnaire described CIT to participants using excerpts from a recently published CIT study. Subjects then responded to various statements concerning their opinions of the protocol and supplied rationale for their opinions.

Sixty-eight per cent of patients said they were not interested in participating in CIT, citing concerns with the practice schedule and the restrictive device schedule. Therapists cited concerns about patient adherence and safety, and speculated that facilities may not have the clinical resources to provide CIT.

Patients with stroke and therapists in some environments may hold sceptical views about the utility of CIT. Although it has been shown to be effective in laboratory research, CIT may have low clinical practicality in some environments.