Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in the Adult Rat after Unilateral Corticospinal Tract Injury

Constraint-induced movement therapy in the adult rat after unilateral corticospinal tract injury.

Smaller spinal cord injuries often allow some degree of spontaneous behavioral improvements because of structural rearrangements within different descending fiber tracts or intraspinal circuits. In this study, we investigate whether rehabilitative training of the forelimb (forced limb use) influences behavioral recovery and plastic events after injury to a defined spinal tract, the corticospina...

Constraint-induced movement therapy after stroke.

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) was developed to overcome upper limb impairments after stroke and is the most investigated intervention for the rehabilitation of patients. Original CIMT includes constraining of the non-paretic arm and task-oriented training. Modified versions also apply constraining of the non-paretic arm, but not as intensive as original CIMT. Behavioural strategies...

Constraint-induced movement therapy.

Kunkel and colleagues 1 recently published an article on constraint-induced (CI) movement therapy for motor recovery in chronic stroke patients. They presented the results of an uncontrolled series of 5 stroke patients undergoing CI therapy. The authors also presented a review of five studies, including their own, concerning the effectiveness of CI therapy based on a calculation of effect sizes...

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

Constraint-induced movement therapy.

Constraint-induced movement therapy improves outcome after chronic stroke, conforms experimental observations of neuronal plasticity, and proves the efficacy of intensive occupational therapy. More acutely instituted constraint-induced movement therapy has both practical and theoretic risks and benefits that deserve further careful evaluation.