About this trial
Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) is based on the theoretical basis that constraining the unaffected limb following injury of the brain such as stroke can help overcome learned non-use. It comprises of constraint of the unaffected limb, massed tasks practice with the affected limb and a behavioral contract known as the transfer package whereby use of the affected limb is extended to the real-world situations. home-based rehabilitation is likely to be cost-effective, and it may reduce cost for patients in terms of hospital charges and transport fares. However, one of the major problems with the existing home-based CIMT protocols is that, they used number of hours spent carrying out tasks practice as the measure of intensity of practice, and it has been argued that, such method is not clear and it does not reflect the correct intensity of practice.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
have stroke 1-2 years before
moderate disability
a score of 1 to 3 on the motor arm item of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
a score of 3 or more on the upper arm item of the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS)
Disqualifiers
patients with re-stroke
serious orthopaedic conditions such joint contracture, osteoarthritis and burns that will interfere with carrying out CIMT
who are receiving rehabilitation at the time of the study
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Home-based CIMT
- Clinic-based CIMT
- Control