Group constraint-induced movement therapy: Motor and functional outcomes in individuals with stroke

Background. Strokes frequently cause limitations of the upper extremity and in performance of activities of daily living (ADL). Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is designed to enhance the use of the hemiplegic arm. Purpose. To assess the effects of group CIMT on upper-extremity motor function and performance level of motor and process skills for instrumental activities in daily living (IADL) in community-dwelling individuals whose stroke occurred at least six months earlier. Methods. Eight adults with stroke participated in this study. Group-based CIMT was administered for two weeks, five times per week, with two-hour intensive daily training. Findings. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) scores improved after intervention. Implications. The results of this study suggest that relatively brief group-based CIMT may be an effective intervention for improving motor function of the affected upper-limb and the level of IADL in individuals who have had stroke.