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Published on: October 11, 2024
A 1-year follow-up after shortened constraint-induced movement therapy with and without mitt poststroke
Christina Brogårdh1, Jan Lexell
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. christina.brogardh@skane.se
Objective:
To explore the long-term benefits of shortened constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in the subacute phase poststroke.
Design:
A 1-year follow-up after shortened CIMT (3h training/d for 2 wk) where the participants had been randomized to a mitt group or a nonmitt group.
Setting:
A university hospital rehabilitation department.
Participants:
Poststroke patients (N=20, 15 men, 5 women; mean age 58.8 y; on average 14.8 mo poststroke) with mild to moderate impairments of hand function.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
The Sollerman hand function test, the modified Motor Assessment Scale, and the Motor Activity Log test. Assessments were made by blinded observers.
Results:
One year after shortened CIMT, participants within both the mitt group and the nonmitt group showed statistically significant improvements in arm and hand motor performance and on self-reported motor ability compared with before and after treatment. No significant differences between the groups were found in any measure at any time.
Conclusions:
Shortened CIMT seems to be beneficial up to 1 year after training, but the restraint may not enhance upper motor function. To determine which components of CIMT are most effective, larger randomized studies are needed.
