Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for Upper Extremities in Patients With Stroke

Graeme J. Hankey MD, FRACP, FRCP Section Editor Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a current approach to stroke rehabilitation that implies the forced and prolonged use of the affected arm by restraining the unaffected arm by enhancing the recovery of the residual motor power.The enhancement of the residual motor power by compulsory exercise is controversial.The objective was to assess the efficacy of CIMT for arm management in hemiparetic patients.We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2008), the Cochrane Stroke Group trials register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PEDro (all to June 2008).We selected randomized trials comparing CIMT, modified CIMT, or forced use with other rehabilitative techniques or none in adults after …