Modifisert Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy hos hjemmeboende pasienter med hemiplegi etter hjerneslag. Utprøving av et behandlingstiltak i kommunehelsetjenesten

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a fairly new rehabilitation approach in the treatment of stroke patients. CIMT has shown promising results, but it is demanding and radical. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of a modified, less intensive CIMT in primary health care. A Single Subject Experimental Design was used to examine functional change in three participants in a chronic stage after stroke. The participants exercised for three weeks according to modified CIMT-principles. They performed five hours of training with a physiotherapist a week, three to five hours daily training at home, and immobilized the good arm for five hours a day. The participants were tested with Wolf Motor Function Test and Motor Activity Log. All participants obtained significantly higher velocity when performing motor tasks. Self-reported amount and quality of use of the affected arm improved considerably for two of the participants. Modified CIMT appears to be a promising treatment in primary health care for motivated patients in the chronic stage after stroke.