Effect Of Distributed Model Of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy For Subacute Stroke Patients

Background: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) has proved to increase the amount and quality of function of an affected upper extremity after stroke by overcoming learned non-use to bring about functional reorganization of the primary motor cortex. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of distributed model of CIMT in improving upper extremity (UE) functions in subacute stroke and to study the importance of constraint in improving the upper extremity function. Methods: Sixteen subjects with subacute stroke were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects were assigned to the experimental (constraint) group and the control (non-constraint) group using random sampling method. Subjects in the constraint & the non-constraint group were provided therapy for 3 hours with repetitive functional task practice. The subjects in the constraint group wore the constraint for 5hrs/day on their less affected UE which included 2 hrs at home and 3 hrs during repetitive functional task practice for 20days. The non-constraint group did not wear the constraint. Three UE subscales of the motor assessment scale were used to measure the activity level of the more affected arm pretest & posttest. Results: The results expressed that the constraint group significantly improved with P = 0.008 (P<0.01) than the non-constraint group, which emphasizes that distributed model of constraint induced movement therapy could facilitate the UE function after stroke in subacute patients. Conclusion: The constraint group significantly improved than the non-constraint group, which emphasizes that distributed model of CIMT could improve the upper extremity function after stroke in subacute patients