1MSc Neurological Rehabilitation, Bayero University, Kano
2BPT student, Department of Physiotherapy, Bayero University, Kano
3BSc Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital
4aBSc Physiotherapy, MSc (Ed) Sport & Exercise sciences, PhD Physiotherapy Candidate, Department of Physiotherapy, Bayero University, Kano
4bDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of Ibadan
Online published on 5 January, 2015.
Constraint induced movement therapy is a novel neurorehabilitation technique for upper limb following stroke. Its main components are massed tasks practice with affected limb and constraint of the unaffected limb for specific periods of time. Evidence of its effectiveness has been reported using various outcomes such as behavioural, neurophysiological and kinematics. However, patients with upper limb pain may find it difficult to practice massed tasks practice. Therefore, it is desirable to determine the optimal dose of tasks practice required for improvement in stroke patients with upper limb pain
Seventy five repetitions of 5 functional tasks (15 repetitions each) was carried out by 11 year old sub-acute stroke patient, once a day, 5 times a weeks for 6 weeks. The unaffected limb was constrained for 90% of the waking hours, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Outcome was assessed using paediatric activity motor log (PMAL).
The result showed significant improvements at 3 and 6 weeks post-intervention that aained minimal clinically important difference (MCID).
Pain is a limiting factor for tasks practice during CIMT. However, tasks practice in less than 100 repetitions could result in significant improvement.
Stroke, Motor recovery, Motor learning, Tasks Repetition, Pain and Constraint induced Movement Therapy
