Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects of modified constraint-induced movememt therapy(mCIMT) on upper extremity motor function of stroke patients with hemiparasis, and to compare the effects of mCIMT with those of conventional rehabilitation.MethodsThirty stroke patients with hemiparesis were divided into mCIMT group and control group (conventional rehabilitalion), 15 cases in each group. The mCIMT group received mCIMT (by shaping) in the affected extremity without restriction of movement of intact upper extremity, 6 h a day, five times a week, for two weeks while the control group was treated with traditional rehabilitation in upper-limb and hands functional exercises. Motor activity logs(MAL) score and simple test for evaluating hand function(STEF ) score were measured in two groups before treatment and 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after treatment.ResultsThere were improvement in MAL and STEF scores in both mCIMT group and control group 2 weeks after treatment compared with pre-treatment(P<0-01), and the scores of MAL and STEF on post-treatment 1 month and 3 months were higher than those of pre-treatment in mCIMT group (P<0-05, P<0-01), but there was no significant difference in MAL and STEF score between pre-treatment and post-treatment 1 month and 3 months in control group(P>0-05).ConclusionSignificant improvement in the affected hand function could be achieved with modified constraint-induced movement therapy in stroke patients, better than conventional rehabilitation therapy.

Key words: modified constrain-induced movement therapy, stroke, upper extremity, function