|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| Constraint-induced therapy effective in stroke |
|
17 April 2006
A placebo-controlled study shows that constraint-induced (CI) movement therapy produces large, long-lasting improvements in patients with chronic stroke, researchers report in the April issue of Stroke.
No significant improvements were seen in the placebo group, but the 21 patients who underwent CI showed "large to very large" improvements in the function of their most-affected arm as measured by the Wolf Motor Function Test, the Motor Activity Log, and the upper extremity actual amount of use test. Improvements persisted at two years post-therapy. CI works by two independent but linked mechanisms, Dr Taub explained: overcoming learned non-use and use-dependent neural plasticity. He and his colleagues have now treated over 500 patients, who retain an average of 80% of their improvement over two years. The approach works in virtually every patient. The oldest patient today is 92 and she had a lab-average treatment effect. Another patient was treated successfully 50 years after a stroke.
Patients are still told that it is impossible for them to have functional improvement one or two years after stroke has occurred, Dr Taub said. CI therapy, he concluded, "offers them hope for the first time."
Reference:
Stroke 2006; 37 (4): 1045-1049.
 Back to selection |
|
 |
|
|
|
