The Effects of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Post-Stroke

Nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. each year experience a stroke with half experiencing chronic residual hemiparesis and disabilities including difficulty walking and performing activities of daily living. After stroke, many individuals experience a phenomenon referred to as learned non-use. These individuals learn to essentially stop using the impaired limb due to difficulties involved with impaired function and use the non-impaired extremity exclusively resulting in further disability. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) selectively restrains use of the uninvolved limb forcing the patient to use the impaired limb promoting enhanced function. While the results of this review support the rehabilitation processes of CIMT, the results are mixed and inconclusive concerning comparison with traditional forms of stroke rehabilitation. Further study is needed to determine optimal doses of CIMT and whether it is most beneficial as an adjunct to traditional therapy or as a replacement of traditional stroke rehabilitation practices