Assessment of Upper Extremity Motor Recovery in Post Stroke Hemiplegic Patients after Application of Constraint Induced Movement Rehabilitation Program

Objectives: This prospective study was done to assess motor recovery of upper extremity function in post ischemic stroke patients after application of Constraint Induced Movement program in addition to traditional rehabilitation program and to compare between efficacy of this combination and efficacy of traditional rehabilitation program only in reducing upper limb impairment after stroke. Subjects and Methods: Forty patients with recent ischemic stroke were included in the study. According to type of rehabilitation program, patients were divided into two groups: 1) Constraint induced movement group: Twenty patients were subjected to constraint induced movement program in addition to traditional rehabilitation program. 2) Traditional rehabilitation program group: Twenty patients subjected to traditional rehabilitation program only. Both groups were subjected to follow-up protocol for 16 weeks. Motricity index, Fugel-Meyer Assessment scale, nine hole peg test and Barthel index were used as outcome measures and were used through out the follow up period. Pre-test measures were performed within 1 week of onset of stroke. Follow up assessments were done at 2, 6, 10 and 14 weeks. Post test assessments were done after 16 weeks. Results: The results of Motricity index, Fugel-Meyer Assessment scale, nine hole peg test and Barthel index revealed that patients in constraint induced movement group performed better throughout the treatment period and showed more improvement in upper extremity functions than patients in traditional rehabilitation program group. Conclusion: Constraint induced movement program is essential to be added to traditional rehabilitation program to maximize improvement of upper extremity function in post stroke hemiplegic patients. (Egypt J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg., 2006, 43(1): 443-450)