Effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy as a home exercise program on upper extremity function and spasticity on a patient with cerebrovascular disease

This was single-subject experimental case design that determined the effects of the Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) as a home exercise program on upper extremity function which included ROM, grip strength, and ADL performance, and spasticity on patients with cerebrovascular disease. The population or sample for this study was comprised of one (1) patient with cerebrovascular accident or stroke whose age is greater than 40 but is less than 75. Purposive sampling technique was also used to identify the patients who are qualified, with the inclusion criteria. The information needed was gathered using standard assessment tools for each variable assessed for the study. The variable assessed are the patient’s function in terms of ADLs performance affected by upper extremity ROM, grip strength, and spasticity. The patient was instructed how to do the mCIMT at home and was only given an exercise diary to record all the activities done per day for the 10-day intervention period. The baseline data was assessed by a licensed physical therapist before the intervention and was re-assessed by the same physical therapist after the intervention. At the end of the intervention period, values on the post-assessment were compared to the values from the pre-assessment, mean scores and percentage differences were determined. The patient exhibited a minimal change in the ADL performance and improvement in the ROM and grip strength. Meanwhile, the spasticity according to the Modified Ashworth Scale remained the same after the intervention. Therefore, the researchers concluded that the Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy had a positive effect as a part of the home exercise program to improve the upper extremity function in terms of ROM, grip strength and on upper extremity ADL performance in terms of the MAL and ARAT but had a negative effect on upper extremity performance in terms of the WMFT in patients with cerebrovascular accident