A longitudinal study of functional magnetic resonance imaging in upper-limb hemiplegia after stroke treated with...

To investigate the correlation of cerebral function reorganization and functional recovery by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) for chronic upper-limb hemiparesis in one subject with stroke.

The patient was treated with 2 weeks of CIMT and the unaffected upper-limb was restricted by a splint for 2 weeks. Clinical measures and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tests were performed 1 day before the treatment, the day of after the treatment and 2 weeks after the treatment.

Compared with the baseline, Upper Extremity Function Test (UEFT) of the patient's upper limb increased by 29.1% and Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF) increased by 18.4%. Before, after and 2 weeks after the treatment, changes of activation in brain by using fMRI were found during the movement of the affected and unaffected hand.

CIMT could significantly improve the upper limb movement function of stroke patients and fMRI proved that this kind of change was related with the plasticity change of the cerebrum. The motor function of the unaffected limb could not be affected when it was restricted and the change of the cerebrum excitation area was a transient change.