脑梗死早期上肢强制性运动疗法的研究

目的 研究早期脑梗死患者进行上肢强制性运动疗法(CIMT)的可行性、安全性、对治疗的耐受性及其远期疗效.方法 22例患者分为治疗组和对照组各11例,脑梗死后2周时开始康复训练2周.在治疗前、治疗2周后及治疗后3个月时进行Fugl-Meyer上肢部分评分(FMA)、Wolf运动功能试验(WMFT)、运动活动日志(MAL)、改良Barthel指数评定.结果 两组患者治疗2周后的WMFT、FMA、MAL、Barthel指数均有提高(P<0.05).除WMFT时间评价外,治疗组均较对照纰为优(P<0.05).治疗后3个月时,治疗组MAL数量评分仍优于对照组(P<0.05),MAL质量评分略优于对照组,但无显著性差异.结论 CIMT运用于早期脑梗死是安全和有效的,早期疗效优于常规康复,但其优势未能维持至3个月后.     

强制性运动疗法结合肌电生物反馈治疗偏瘫患者上肢功能的疗效观察

目的：研究强制性运动疗法（CIMT）结合肌电生物反馈对偏瘫患者上肢功能恢复的作用.方法：脑卒中偏瘫患者40例,随机分为对照组和观察组各20例.2组患者均接受常规药物治疗、康复训练及肌电生物反馈疗法,观察组加用CIMT治疗.治疗前后采用Wolf运动功能测试（WMFT）及改良的Barthel指数（MBI）评定.结果：治疗4周后,2组的WMFT及MBI评分均较治疗前明显提高（P＜0.05）,且观察组WMFT评分更高于对照组（P＜0.05）.结论：CIMT结合肌电生物反馈可以更有效地促进脑卒中后偏瘫患者上肢功能的改善.     

强制性运动治疗脑损伤后上肢运动功能障碍的疗效观察

目的探讨强制性运动疗法（CIMT）对亚急性偏瘫患者上肢运动功能障碍的治疗效果，并对比该疗法与传统康复治疗间的疗效差异。方法将36例偏瘫患者随机分成治疗组及对照组。治疗组患者每天强化训练患侧上肢5h，每周训练5d，连续训练3周，同时采用休息位手夹板和吊带限制健侧手的使用，每天8h。对照组采用传统物理治疗和作业治疗等方法，每天训练患肢5h，每周训练5d，治疗期间不限制健侧手的使用。采用运动活动记录表（MAL）、Wolf运动功能实验（WMFT）和Barthel指数作为疗效评测工具，分别于治疗前、治疗后即刻、治疗后1个月和3个月时进行疗效评估。结果治疗组患者治疗前、后存在明显的组内效应（P〈0．01），其疗效持续至随访期；在提高患侧上肢灵活性及上肢使用方面，治疗组与对照组间差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；治疗组患者在治疗2周时和3周时其疗效差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；2组患者在Barthel指数及WMFT时间得分方面，组间差异均无统计学意义（P〉0，05）。结论CIMT能显著提高亚急性偏瘫患者的上肢运动功能，加强患侧上肢在日常生活中的使用频率，其疗效明显优于传统康复治疗。     

强制性运动疗法对脑卒中亚急性早期偏瘫患者上肢功能恢复的影响

目的探讨强制性运动疗法（CIMT）对脑卒中亚急性早期偏瘫患者上肢功能恢复的影响。 方法采用随机数字表法将入选脑卒中偏瘫患者分为治疗组及对照组。治疗组患者给予2周CIMT治疗,每日连续治疗3h,每周治疗5d,共治疗2周;对照组则给予以神经发育疗法为主的传统康复治疗。于治疗前、疗程结束1d时及疗程结束6个月时分别采用Wolf运动功能试验（WMFT）、Fugl-Meyer运动功能量表(FMA)上肢部分评价偏瘫侧上肢运动功能情况,并采用运动活动记录表上肢使用数量（MAL-AU）和运动活动记录表上肢动作质量（MAL-HW）评定偏瘫侧上肢使用能力。 结果疗程结束1d时治疗组FMA、WMFT、MAL-AU和MAL-HW评分分别为（53.81±2.59）分、（66.68±3.54）分、（1.89±0.88）和（3.26±0.65）;对照组分别为（48.61±4.48）分、（62.10±7.97）分、（1.25±0.64）和（2.65±0.93）。疗程结束6个月时治疗组FMA、WMFT、MAL-AU和MAL-HW评分分别为（57.53±2.01）分、（69.57±3.00）分、（3.00±0.82）和（3.84±0.69）,对照组分别为（53.30±2.88）分、（66.20±3.59）分、（2.20±1.06）和（3.25±0.64）。经统计学比较,发现上述时间点治疗组FMA、WMFT及MAL评分均较对照组明显提高,组间差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 结论CIMT治疗能进一步促进亚急性早期脑卒中患者上肢功能改善,且其疗效至少持续半年,该疗法值得临床推广、应用。     

强迫性运动治疗对脑卒中患者偏瘫上肢运动功能的影响

目的探讨强迫性运动治疗对脑卒中患者偏瘫上肢运动功能的影响，并与强化治疗进行比较。 方法选择符合入组标准的脑卒中住院患者30例，并随机分为常规治疗组（CTT组），强化治疗组（ITT组）和强迫性运动治疗组（CIMT组），每组10例。所有患者均在治疗前、治疗2周、治疗4周后用Wolf运动功能量表(WMFT)进行评定，分别比较每组患者治疗前、后功能评分、作业完成时间的变化。 结果3组患者治疗后功能评分较治疗前均显著增加（P＜0.05），ITT组及CIMT组作业完成时间较治疗前明显缩短（P＜0.05）。3组之间进行比较，ITT组与CIMT组治疗后功能评分较CTT组显著增加，作业完成时间显著缩短（P＜0.05），ITT组与CIMT组之间功能评分及作业时间比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。 结论强化治疗和强迫性运动治疗对脑卒中患者偏瘫上肢的康复均具有明显的疗效，强化治疗可以代替强迫性运动治疗。     

改良强制性运动疗法对脑瘫患儿上肢功能康复的临床研究

目的观察改良强制性运动疗法对脑瘫患儿上肢功能康复的临床效果。方法选取100例脑瘫上肢功能障碍患儿,按随机数字表均分为研究组和对照组。研究组采用改良强制性运动疗法,对照组采用强制性运动康复疗法。两组训练治疗频率每天6小时,每周5天,治疗1个月。两组治疗前和治疗4周后分别用Wolf运动功能试验(WMFT)、简式Fugl-Meyer运动评价表、精细运动功能评估量表(FMFM)、运动活动日志(MAL)等进行综合评估。结果两组患者治疗前的WMFT、FMA、FMFM、患肢运动量(AOU)、运动质量(QOM)、MAL数量、MAL质量评分差异均无统计学意义(t分别=2.31、2.49、3.15、0.27、0.48、0.37、0.51,P均>0.05)。研究组治疗后WMFT、FMA、FMFM、AOU、QOM、MAL数量、MAL质量改善疗效较对照组治疗后更佳,差异均有统计学意义(t分别=5.49、4.17、3.55、1.49、1.24、1.69、1.18,P均<0.05)。结论改良强制性运动疗法可以提高脑瘫患儿上肢的灵活性和运动速度,改善日常生活能力,提高患儿预后生存质量。     

强制性使用运动疗法对恢复期脑卒中患者上肢功能的影响

目的探讨强制性使用运动疗法(CIMT)对恢复期脑卒中患者上肢功能和日常生活活动能力的影响。 方法将符合入选条件的30例恢复期脑卒中偏瘫患者随机分为观察组和对照组,每组15例。观察组用CIMT，即用休息位夹板和吊带将健侧上肢固定，限制使用，每天在清醒时的固定时间不少于90%；每天强制性训练患者使用偏瘫侧上肢6 h（其中1 h在作业治疗室进行任务指向性塑形训练，其它5 h在家属监督下使用患手），每周6 d，持续3周。对照组用神经发育疗法(NDT)，每天在作业治疗室以运动再学习方案训练为主，训练患者使用偏瘫侧上肢1 h，每周6 d，持续3周。2组患者均同时予以常规药物治疗及其它康复治疗，治疗前、后采用Wolf运动功能评价量表（WMFT）评定偏瘫侧上肢运动功能，采用Barthel指数(BI）评定ADL能力。 结果治疗前2组患者WMFT评分和BI评分比较，差异无统计学意义（P&rt;0.05）；2组治疗前、后比较，偏瘫侧上肢运动功能和ADL能力均有提高，差异具有统计学意义(P<0.001)；治疗后2组患者WMFT评分比较，观察组优于对照组，差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)，而BI评分比较，差异无统计学意义(P&rt;0.05)。 结论CIMT与NDT对恢复期脑卒中患者上肢功能都有促进作用，都可提高患者ADL能力，但CIMT对促进恢复期脑卒中患者的上肢功能优于NDT。     

强制性运动疗法联合重复经颅磁刺激对脑卒中患者上肢运动功能的影响

目的 探讨强制性运动疗法（CIMT）联合重复经颅磁刺激（rTMS）对脑卒中患者上肢运动功能的影响。 方法 选取脑卒中后上肢运动功能障碍患者60例,采用随机数字表法将其分为CIMT组、rTMS组和联合组,每组20例。所有患者均接受常规药物治疗和康复训练,CIMT组增加CIMT进行上肢功能训练,rTMS组增加rTMS治疗,联合组患者先接受rTMS治疗,结束后立即进行CIMT训练。每日治疗1次,每周5 d,持续4周。治疗前及治疗4周后（治疗后）,分别采用简化Fugl-Meyer运动功能评定量表上肢部分（FMA-UE）、Carroll上肢功能测试（UEFT）及改良Barthel指数（MBI）对患者进行康复评定。 结果 治疗前,3组患者FMA-UE、UEFT、MBI评分比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。与组内治疗前比较,3组患者FMA-UE、UEFT、MBI评分均改善（P＜0.05）。与rTMS组治疗后比较,CIMT组及联合组上述指标均显著改善（P＜0.05）。与CIMT组治疗后比较,联合组治疗后FMA-UE［（51.60±1.85）分］、UEFT［（35.60±2.93）分］、MBI评分［（68.75±3.01）分］较为优异（P＜0.05）。 结论 CIMT联合rTMS可有效改善脑卒中患者的上肢运动功能及手功能,提高日常生活活动能力。     

经外耳皮肤电刺激迷走神经对脑梗死偏瘫患者上肢运动功能恢复的影响

摘要 目的：探讨经外耳皮肤电刺激迷走神经（transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, t-VNS）对脑梗死偏瘫患者上肢运动功能的影响。 方法：将确定入组的42例脑梗死患者随机分配至试验组（t-VNS+常规治疗）及对照组（sham-t-VNS+常规治疗）。入组0天进行基线评定,入组后21天进行治疗后的评价。评定内容包括上肢Fugl-Meyer评分（Fugl-Meyer assessment, FMA）、Wolf运动功能测试（Wolf motor function test,WMFT）、功能独立性评定（functional independence measurement,FIM）。同时治疗过程中及治疗后观察可能出现的副作用。 结果：治疗前两组患者的上肢FMA、WMFT、FIM评分均无显著性差异（P＞0.05）。治疗21天后,两组上肢FMA、WMFT、FIM评分均较治疗前提高（P＜0.05）,并且试验组指标优于对照组（P＜0.05）。治疗过程中及治疗后未出现明显的不良反应。 结论：t-VNS对脑梗死偏瘫患者上肢运动功能恢复的具有促进作用,并且无明显副作用。     

强制性使用运动疗法在不同程度上肢功能障碍脑卒中患者中的效力

目的 探讨强制性使用运动疗法（CIMT）在不同程度上肢运动障碍的脑卒中患者中的康复效力。方法 27例脑卒中偏瘫患者（平均病程8．3个月）参与此研究。在CIMT治疗期间，要求患者健侧穿戴吊带和夹板来限制健侧肢体动作，每天清醒时固定时间不少于90％，连续12d。同时接受塑形训练，密集地训练患侧肢体活动，完成日常生活中的动作，连续两周共10个工作日。在接受CIMT治疗前和治疗后用上肢功能测验（UEFT）评价患者的上肢运动功能。根据CIMT治疗前UEFT评定结果进行上肢运动功能障碍程度分类。结果 在CIMT治疗后，上肢运动功能障碍重度组和中度组患者的UEF得分较治疗前均显著提高（P〈0．001），而且CIMT在重度组患者中比在中度组患者显现出更大的康复效力（ES分别为2．2和1．8）。在UEFT的改善值方面，重度组和中度组患者间无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论 CIMT可以有效地改善不同障碍程度脑卒中患者的上肢运动功能，特别是在上肢运动功能障碍严重的脑卒中患者中显现出更大的康复效力。     

Wolf运动功能测试量表的标准效度和评定者内部信度研究

目的：研究脑卒中偏瘫患者上肢运动的Wolf运动功能测试量表（WMFT）的标准效度和评定者内部信度研究。方法：22例脑卒中慢性期患者在2周内由同一测试者进行WMFT的检查，并与Fugl—Meyer评价量表上肢部分进行效度分析。结果：两次WMFT计时组内相关系数（ICC）为0．990，95％置信区间为0．977—0.996；两次WMFT动作质量分级组内相关系数（ICC）为0．988．95％置信区间为0.970—0．995。WM丌计时与WMFT动作质量分级相关系数为-0.971（P〈0．001）。WMFT计时与FMA上肢评分相关系数为-0．732（P〈0．001），WMFT动作质量分级与FMA评分相关系数为0．838（P〈0．001）。结论：WMFT具有好的重测信度和标准效度。     

低频重复经颅磁刺激结合作业疗法对卒中患者 上肢功能恢复的疗效

目的:探究低频重复经颅磁刺激(r TMS)结合作业疗法(OT)治疗后卒中患者的上肢痉挛和运动功能的变化。方法:选择卒中后伴上肢偏瘫患者47例,按Brunnstrom分期量表分为3期组(12例)、4期组(15例)、5期组(20例),进行低频r TMS结合OT治疗15 d。在治疗前、治疗后及30 d随访时对受影响的上肢痉挛和运动功能进行评估。结果:所有患者治疗后及30 d后随访发现MAS评分和WMFT评分明显下降(P<0.01),FMA评分明显提高(P<0.01),4期组最明显。同时发现偏瘫上肢痉挛改善的患者较未改善的患者上肢运动功能提高更明显。结论:卒中后伴有上肢偏瘫的患者经低频r TMS结合OT治疗15 d后可明显改善受损上肢的偏瘫和运动功能,其中Brunnstrom偏瘫分期为4期的患者受益最明显。且改善受损上肢的痉挛症状有助于提高其运动功能。     

Upper-extremity functional electric stimulation-assisted exercises on a workstation in the subacute phase of stroke recovery

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of functional electric stimulation (FES)-assisted exercise therapy (FES-ET) on a workstation in the subacute phase of recovery from a stroke. DESIGN: Single-blind, randomly controlled comparison of high- and low-intensity treatment. SETTING: Laboratory in a rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen stroke survivors (10 men, 9 women; mean age +/- standard deviation, 60.6+/-5.8y), with upper-extremity hemiplegia (mean poststroke time, 48+/-17d). The main inclusion criteria were: stroke occurred within 3 months of onset of trial and resulted in severe upper-limb dysfunction, and FES produced adequate hand opening. INTERVENTION: An FES stimulator and an exercise workstation with instrumented objects were used by 2 groups to perform specific motor tasks with their affected upper extremity. Ten subjects in the high-intensity FES-ET group received FES-ET for 1 hour a day on 15 to 20 consecutive workdays. Nine subjects in the low-intensity FES-ET group received 15 minutes of sensory electric stimulation 4 days a week and on the fifth day they received 1 hour of FES-ET. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measure included the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). Secondary outcome measures included the Motor Activity Log (MAL), the upper-extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and the combined kinematic score (CKS) derived from workstation measurements. The WMFT, MAL, and FMA were used to assess function in the absence of FES whereas CKS was used to evaluate function assisted by FES. RESULTS: Improvements in the WMFT and CKS were significantly greater in the high-intensity group (post-treatment effect size, .95) than the low-intensity group (post-treatment effect size, 1.3). The differences in MAL and FMA were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects performing high-intensity FES-ET showed significantly greater improvements on the WMFT than those performing low-intensity FES-ET. However, this was not reflected in subjects' self-assessments (MAL) or in their FMA scores, so the clinical significance of the result is open to debate. The CKS data suggest that high-intensity FES-ET may be advantageous in neuroprosthetic applications.     

Constraint-induced movement therapy for motor recovery in chronic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the effectiveness of constraint-induced (CI) movement therapy and quantitative evaluation of the effects of CI therapy. DESIGN: Intervention study; case series; pretreatment to posttreatment measures and follow-up 3 months after intervention. SETTING: An outpatient department. PATIENTS: Five chronic stroke patients with moderate motor deficit; convenience sample. INTERVENTIONS: CI therapy consisting of restraint of the unaffected upper extremity in a sling for 14 days combined with 6 hours of training per weekday of the affected upper extremity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Actual Amount of Use Test (AAUT), Motor Activity Log (MAL), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT) RESULTS: There was a substantial improvement in the performance times of the laboratory tests (AMAT, WMFT, p < or = .039) and in the quality of movement (AMAT, WMFT, p < or = .049; MAL, p = .049), particularly in the use of the extremity in "real world" environments (AAUT, p = .020), supported by results of quantitative evaluation. The effect sizes were large and comparable to those found in previous studies of CI therapy. CONCLUSIONS: CI therapy is an efficacious treatment for chronic stroke patients, especially in terms of real world outcome.     

Constraint-induced movement therapy in neurological rehabilitation: which modality to choose? Our experience in rehabilitation in Geneva]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is to stimulate the use of the affected upper arm following stroke and to improve the integration of the arm in activities of daily living. CIMT consists of restraining the unaffected arm to limit its use, combined with a training program based on the shaping principle. We aimed to explore how this method can be used in practice by studying 4 patients after stroke. METHOD: We investigated 4 patients, 2 with chronic disability (10 and 17 months after the stroke), and 2 with subacute disability (1 month after the stroke). Patients underwent 3 weeks of treatment, with evaluations before, immediately after, 3 months and 1 year after the training. The following scales were used: Wolf Motor Function Test (WFMT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and motor activity log (MAL). RESULTS: Four patients showed enhanced function (improved WFMT and FMA scores) at 3 months and 3 patients at one year and better use of the paretic limb in daily activities (MAL score). Two patients in the subacute phase showed better speed of movement (WFMT score). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of CIMT seems to be confirmed by the literature and our observations. It is superior to the usual treatment but concerns only a few patients. The scheme of treatment is still not clear, but many studies recommend the use of a glove 90% of the day for 2 or 3 weeks, with 3 to 6 hours per day of intensive therapy.     

Effect of spatial target reaching training based on visual biofeedback on the upper extremity function of hemiplegic stroke patients

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to determine the effect of spatial target reaching training (TRT) based on visual biofeedback (VB) on the upper extremity (UE) function of hemiplegic subjects. [Subjects and Methods] Forty subjects between six and eighteen months post-stroke were enrolled in this study. They were randomly allocated to an experimental group (EG, n=20) and a control group (CG, n=20). All subjects received an hour of routine therapy for stroke three times a week for four weeks. Subjects in EG received additional spatial TRT based on VB using a 2-dimensional motion capture analysis system. Both groups were tested at pre and post-intervention. The motor function of each subject’s UE was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer (FM) test of UE and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). The reaching speed, angle and maximum reach distance were recorded using the motion capture analysis system. The experimental data were analyzed using the paired and independent t-tests. [Results] The mean change scores of the FM Test of UE and WMFT show there was significantly more improvement at post-intervention in EG than in CG. Also, the speed and angle reached showed significantly more increase in the EG compared with the CG. [Conclusions] The findings indicate that UE motor recovery of hemiplegic stroke patients can be enhanced through the use of TRT based on VB.Key words: Target reaching training, Upper extremity function, Visual biofeedback     

Botulinum toxin a, evidence-based exercise therapy, and constraint-induced movement therapy for upper-limb hemiparesis attributable to stroke: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the combination of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) treatment for the upper limb and a 4-wk course of exercise therapy could improve motor function sufficiently to allow those with poststroke hemiparesis and spasticity to achieve the minimal motor criteria (MMC) to be enrolled in constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), and to determine the feasibility of enrolling participants into CIMT if they meet MMC after treatment with a combination of BTX-A plus exercise therapy. DESIGN: Twelve individuals received BTX-A and exercise therapy for 1 hr/day, three times per week, for 4 wks. Those who met MMC were enrolled in 2 wks of CIMT, and the rest received a home exercise program. Outcome measures included the Ashworth Scale, Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), the Motor Activity Log (MAL), the Box and Blocks Test (BBT), and the upper-extremity subtest of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Function (FM-UE). RESULTS: Ashworth Scale scores declined from a mean score of 2.0-1.2 (P = 0.01). Four of 12 subjects were able to achieve MMC (P = 0.026). CIMT participants improved in the BBT, the MAL, and the WMFT compared with their own baseline. Gains achieved during CIMT receded by week 24 as spasticity returned. CONCLUSION: BTX-A plus exercise therapy shows potential to improve function for those with severe hand paresis and spasticity after stroke. Those who meet MMC may initially realize further modest gains through CIMT. However, gains are likely to recede as spasticity returns. Adding medications or modifying the therapy protocol to include activities such as functional neuromuscular stimulation or robotic training may yield a more potent effect.     

Early versus late‐applied constraint‐induced movement therapy: A multisite,randomized controlled trial with a 12‐month follow‐up

Background and Purpose

A direct comparison between the effects of constraint‐induced movement therapy (CIMT) applied early after stroke and that of CIMT applied in the chronic phase has not been conducted. This study aimed to compare the long‐term effects of CIMT applied 6 months after stroke with the results of CIMT applied within 28 days post‐stroke.

Methods

This study was a single‐blinded, multicentre, randomized controlled trial with a crossover design. Forty‐seven patients received CIMT either early (within 28 days) or 6 months after stroke. Both groups received standard rehabilitation and were tested at 5 time points. The primary outcome measure was Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT); the secondary measures were Nine‐Hole Peg Test (NHPT), the Fugl‐Meyer Assessment (FMA) of the upper extremity, Stroke Impact Scale, and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS).

Results

Compared with baseline data, both groups showed significant improvements in the primary and secondary outcome measures after 12 months. No significant differences between the 2 treatment groups were found before and after the delayed intervention group received CIMT at 6 months and during the 12‐month follow‐up. Both groups recovered considerably and showed only minor impairment (median FMA score of 64) after 6 months. The early intervention group showed an initially faster recovery curve of WMFT, NHPT, and MRS scores.

Discussion

In contrast to most CIMT studies, our study could not find an effect of CIMT applied 6 months after stroke. Our results indicate that commencing CIMT early is as good as delayed intervention in the long term, specifically in this group of patients who might have reached a ceiling effect during the first 6 months after stroke. Nevertheless, the early CIMT intervention group showed a faster recovery curve than the delayed intervention group, which can be a clinically important finding for patients in the acute phase.     

Kinematic and clinical analyses of upper-extremity movements after constraint-induced movement therapy in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) relative to traditional intervention on motor-control strategies for upper-arm reaching and motor performance at the impairment and functional levels in stroke patients. DESIGN: Two-group randomized controlled trial (RCT); pretreatment and posttreatment measures. SETTING: Rehabilitation clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven stroke patients (mean age, 55y) 3 weeks to 37 months postonset of a first-ever cerebrovascular accident. INTERVENTIONS: Forty-seven patients received either CIMT (restraint of the less affected hand combined with intensive training of the more affected upper extremity) or traditional intervention (control treatment) during the study. The treatment intensity was matched between the 2 groups (2h/d, 5d/wk for 3wk). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were evaluated using (1) kinematic variables of reaching movement used to describe the control strategies for reaching, (2) the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of motor-impairment severity, and (3) the Motor Activity Log (MAL) evaluating the functional ability of the upper extremity. RESULTS: After treatment, the CIMT group showed better strategies of reaching control than the control group (P<.03). The CIMT group also showed less motor impairment on the FMA (P=.019) and higher functional ability on the MAL (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first RCT to show differences in motor-control strategies as measured by kinematic variables after CIMT versus traditional intervention. In addition to improving motor performance at the impairment and functional levels, CIMT conferred therapeutic benefits on control strategies determined by kinematic analysis.