Article

Despite the confirmed short-term effects of constraint-induced
movement therapy, the long-term effects have not been sufficiently verified in
terms of functional improvement of the affected arm.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the
long-term effects and relationship between arm use in activities of daily living
and arm improvement with modified constraint-induced movement therapy in chronic
stroke patients. METHODS: At 1 year after completing modified constraint-induced
movement therapy, arm function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment) and amount of daily arm
use (motor activity log) were assessed. RESULTS: Fourteen post-stroke patients
with mild to moderate impairment of arm function were analyzed. One year after
completing modified constraint-induced movement therapy, participants
consistently showed improvements in arm function and amount of daily arm use
(analysis of variance: Fugl-Meyer Assessment, P < 0.001; Motor Activity Log, P <
0.001). For the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, post-hoc tests detected significant
improvements (pre versus post, P = 0.009; pre versus 1 year, P < 0.0001; post
versus 1 year, P < 0.036). For the Motor Activity Log, post-hoc tests also
detected significant improvements (pre versus post, P = 0.0001; pre versus 1
year, P < 0.0001; post versus 1 year, P = 0.0014). The magnitude of the change in
Fugl-Meyer Assessment score correlated significantly with the change in Motor
Activity Log score (R = 0.778, P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Among post-stroke
patients with mild to moderate impairments of arm function, modified
constraint-induced movement therapy without any other rehabilitation after
intervention may improve arm function and increase arm use for 1 year. In
addition, increasing arm use may represent an important factor in improving arm
function, and vice versa.

Langue : ANGLAIS