Effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on the lower extremities in patients with stroke: a pilot study

Purpose: This study aimed to qualify the improvements of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (m-CIMT) on the lower limb of stroke patients via assessing the centre of mass (COM) displacement and the basic gait parameters.

Methods: A total of 22 hemiplegic patients after stroke with first-time clinical cerebral infarction or haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident were included in this study from May to December, 2014. The patients were randomly divided into m-CIMT group and the conventional therapy group (control group), and received corresponding training for five days/week for four weeks. The COM displacement and gait parameters were assessed by three-dimensional segmental kinematics method in pre-intervention and post- intervention therapy.

Results: After four weeks of m-CIMT, the COM displacement on sagittal plane of paretic leg during stance phase was increased (pre: 91.04?±?4.39?cm, post: 92.38?±?4.58?cm, p?p?p?Conclusion: The m-CIMT intervention improves the COM displacement in sagittal and frontal plane, as well as gait parameters. These suggest that m-CIMT intervention may be feasible and effective for the rehabilitation of hemiplegic gait.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Segmental kinematics method was used to estimate the displacement of the COM.

• m-CIMT interventions improved the COM displacement of patients after stroke.

• m-CIMT interventions improved the hemiplegic gait parameters.