Comparing effects of constraint-induced movement therapy and robotic therapy: Randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Stroke is the one of the main causes of adult disability and up to 80% of the stroke survivors will develop upper extremity motor dysfunction. Currently, Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and Robotic Therapy (RT) have high level of evidence for upper limb dysfunction treatment. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies comparing CIMT and RT on functionality and motor recovery of upper limb in stroke patients. Therefore, this study aims to compare RT and CIMT and understand their effects of on upper limb motor recovery and functionality of chronic stroke patients. This is a parallel, single blinded, randomized (1:1) clinical trial. From May 2012 to May 2015, 51 patients, who fulfilled the eligibility criteria, were enrolled into one of treatment groups–CIMT or RT. The outcomes of upper limb function were measured by Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment–Upper Limb (FMA-UL), Arm motor Ability Test (AMAT), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). Our results showed that both treatments are equally beneficial to chronic stroke patients, with no statistical difference between the groups for primary or secondary outcomes. From baseline, the mean improvement, standard deviation and P -value are described in Table 1 . Additionally, patients kept the gains along the follow up visits, 3 and 12 months after treatment. CIMT and RT could be equally effective in improve upper limb function, motor recovery, functionality and quality of life in chronic stroke patients, even when compared 12 months after the end of treatment.