| Objective: To investigate the effect of a 4-week group modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (gmCIMT) on hemiplegic upper limb functions after stroke. Methods: Twenty-nine inpatients with chronic stroke were recruited and randomly assigned into gmCIMT group (n=14) and control group (n=15). In gmCIMT group, the non-affected hand was restricted for 5 h every day and the affected hand underwent a 3 h program (1 h gmCIMT and 2 h ward-based ADL) per day for 4 weeks, 6 days per week. In control group, the non-affected hand was un-restricted, and the affected hand received a 3 h program (1 h group occupational therapy and 2 h self-management activities) per day for 4 weeks, 6 days per week. All patients were evaluated by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Functional Test of Hemiplegic Upper Extremity-Hong Kong (FTHUE-HK), MAL-AOU (Amount of Use) and MAL-QOM (Quality of Movement), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) pretreatment and immediate posttreatment. Results: After treatment for 4 weeks, there were significant differences in the changes of all outcomes in both gmCIMT group and control group (P<0.05). Except the score of MBI, patients in gmCIMT group showed much more increase on all the other outcome measures than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both gmCIMT and conventional group occupational therapy program were effective to improve upper limb motor functions in patients with chronic stroke. The gmCIMT demonstrated more benefit on motor control and increase the amount and quality of hand use in daily life. |
