Constraint-induced therapy (CIT) is a rehabilitation intervention designed to promote
increased use of a weak or paralyzed arm, most commonly in patients who sustained
a stroke. CIT involves constraining the unaffected arm in a sling or mitt, forcing
the use of the weaker or paralyzed arm in daily activities. The aim of this study
was to determine whether immobilizing the uninvolved arm of persons who experienced
a stroke while participating in meaningful activities of daily living would increase
their satisfaction and performance in life roles. Nine clients participated in a pilot
study consisting of 2 weeks of individualized occupation-based CIT. This pilot study
combined therapy in the clinic with therapy in the individual’s home environment and
incorporated meaningful daily activities chosen by the client into treatment. Results
revealed a significant change in reported satisfaction and performance postintervention;
however, a decline in satisfaction at follow-up despite continued motor improvement.
Even though voluntary movements demonstrated improvement, participants were not satisfied
with their performance in functional goal-related activities in their natural environment.
Motor improvement can be repeated; however, at follow-up, participants were not satisfied
with the improvement in meaningful activities that they identified. This may have
to do with participants wanting or expecting their affected upper extremity to function
better despite the deficits. It is also possible that participants expected their
function to improve at the rate that it did during treatment. Further investigation
using meaningful activity is needed to identify integration of the affected upper
extremity into individuals’ own environments and determine how it affects overall
life roles and satisfaction over time.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 22,
2004
Received:
December 1,
2004
Footnotes
Initial support provided by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and grant support from the California Foundation of Occupational Therapy.
Originally a poster presentation at the Occupational Therapy Association of California Annual Conference, November 5, 2004.
Identification
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2005.01.002
Copyright
© 2005 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
