Comparative Effects of Intensive and Distributed CIMT on Upper Extremity Function in Stroke Patients

Comparative Effects of Intensive and Distributed Constraint-induced Movement Therapy on Upper Extremity Function in Stroke Patients

The main question this clinical trial is aims to answer is whether intensive and distributed constraint-induced movement therapy has similar effects on upper extremity function in participants with stroke. Participants will receive intensive protocol of CIMT for 6 hours for 6 days to make total of 36 hours while distributed protocol participants will receive 2.25 hours of training two times a week for 8 weeks making total of 36 hours.

Many studies have examined the effects of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in upper extremity function in stroke patients. Literature has shown effectiveness of different CIMT protocols for stroke patients. Emerging research have demonstrated comparative efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy with different physical therapy approaches i.e. bimanual intensive training, motor relearning programme for improving upper extremity function. But according to researcher's knowledge, the gap of current knowledge is that no study has directly investigated the comparative effectiveness of intensive and distributed CIMT in stroke patients and if intensive and distributed CIMT had similar motor outcomes in upper limb function after stroke

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 40-70 years
• ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
• Both genders eligible
• Gcs score ≥ 13
• Able to extend at least 10° at the fingers
• Able to extend at least 20° at the wrist
• Patients diagnosed with one side more affected(hemiplegia)
• Modified Ashworth scale score ≤2

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe, chronic systemic illness
• Epilepsy
• History of fall past 6 months
• Injections of botulinum toxin type A or operations on the UE within 6 months