International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Standardizing the Protocols of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy in Patients within 4 Months Post-stroke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled trial

Auwal Abdullahi and Sale Shehu

Background: The protocols of constraint induced movement therapy are heterogeneous, and it is difficult to adopt one particular protocol. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a standardized constrain induced movement therapy protocol where all the participants will perform same tasks and with same number of repetitions. Methods: Sixteen stroke patients (6 males, 10 females, with mean age 53.71 years) who were < 6 months poststroke were randomized into experimental and control groups. The experimental and control groups received standardized CIMT and traditional modified CIMT respectively for 4 weeks. Motor function was assessed at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks post-intervention using WMFT and MAL. The data was analyzed using t-test, one-way repeated measures ANOVA and one-way ANCOVA. Result: A significant difference was recorded using one way repeated ANOVA in the control group between baseline, and 2 weeks; and 4 weeks post-intervention(Wilk’s Lambda = 0.29, p= 0.025) for both AOU, QOU and WMFT. The results recorded using t- test and one -way ANCOVA showed no significant difference between groups. However, there was a strong relationship that existed on the effect of covariate (baseline) on the 2 and 4 weeks post-intervention scores as indicated by large eta squared values. Conclusion: It is possible for stroke patients to perform 320 repetitions of tasks practice (same tasks) per day.