Umeå University's logo

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) on hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP), shoulder range of motion (ROM) and upper extremity motor function in stroke patients.

Methods: This longitudinal intervention cohort study was performed in an outpatient clinic without a control group. Participants underwent individually tailored CIMT with a patient therapist ratio of 4:1 for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 consecutive weeks, including daily shoulder strength and joint motion training. A total of 221 (101 with and 120 without pre-CIMT HSP) middle-aged (median 54 years) persons at sub-acute or chronic phases after stroke were included in the study. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) subscale for pain was used for defining and scoring HSP at passive motion (sum of four directions of movement, maximum 8 points indicating no pain). Passive and active shoulder ROM (sum of flexion and abduction) were assessed. Upper extremity motor function was assessed with B. Lindmark Motor Assessment. Assessments were done pre- and post-CIMT and at 3-month follow-up. Comparisons were stratified by subgroups with- and without HSP.

Results: In the subgroup with pre-CIMT HSP, median HSP score at passive movement was reduced (FMA shoulder pain score increased) from pre- to post-CIMT from 5 points to 7 points post-CIMT, (p < 0.001, Effect size (ES) 0.68). Median active ROM increased from 230° to 308° (p < 0.001, ES 0.72) and median passive ROM increased from 350° to 360° (p < 0.001, ES 0.44). Median motor function improved from 42 to 49 points (p < 0.001, ES 0.92). In the subgroup without pre-CIMT HSP no statistically significant increase of HSP was seen and no clinically significant changes observed for active or passive ROM after CIMT. Median motor function improved from 52 to 56 points (p < 0.001, ES 0.71). All improvements persisted at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusion: CIMT in an outpatient clinical setting may be a feasible treatment to decrease HSP and to improve shoulder ROM and upper extremity motor function among middle-aged persons in the subacute and chronic phases after stroke. Results need to be confirmed in an RCT setting.

Objective: To investigate whether high-intensity lower extremity constraint-induced movement therapy can improve balance, leg strength, and dual-task ability.

Design: A longitudinal cohort study in a real-world outpatient clinic.

Patients: 147 community-dwelling participants in the subacute and chronic poststroke phases.

Methods: Participants received lower extremity constraint-induced movement therapy for 6 hours/day during 2 consecutive weeks, including balance, strength, and functional training. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Single-Leg-Stance (SLS) bilaterally, one Repetition Maximum (1RM) in a leg press, symmetry of leg strength (Diff-1RM), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and the TUG Manual test were assessed before, after, and 3 months after lower extremity constraint-induced movement therapy.

Results: Compared with preintervention data, statistically significant improvements after lower extremity constraint-induced movement therapy (p < 0.001) were demonstrated for balance with an absolute value in BBS at 1.9 points (effect size 0.38) and SLS at 2.4 s (effect size 0.24), and for leg strength at 10.2 kg (effect size 0.54) for the affected leg. Diff 1RM decreased significantly at 5.8 kg (effect size 0.39) and improvements on dual-task ability at 2.7 s were significant (effect size 0.14). The effects persisted at the 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions: High-intensity lower extremity constraint-induced movement therapy may be a feasible treatment option for middle-aged stroke patients to affect balance, leg strength, and dual-task ability positively in an out-patient clinical setting.