• Iris Charlotte Brunner, Jan Sture Skouen, and Liv Inger Strand.
• Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
• Top Stroke Rehabil. 2011 May 1;18(3):248-57.

PurposeTo examine eligibility for modalities such as constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and modified CIMT (mCIMT) in the subacute phase after stroke and to define the share of patients who should be offered this treatment.MethodsA prospective, repeated-measures design was used. A total of 100 consecutive patients with arm paresis 1 to 2 weeks post stroke were screened. Eligible for CIMT were patients who were cognitively intact, medically stable, and able to extend the wrist and 3 fingers 10° as a lower limit. The active range of motion was registered, and motor function was assessed by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and the Nine Hole Peg Test at 1 to 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months post stroke.ResultsFrom 100 patients, 54 were excluded from motor assessment, mostly due to cognitive impairments. Of the remaining 46 patients, 21 (46%) were eligible according to motor function of the hand at 1 to 2 weeks post stroke, whereas in the other patients motor function was either too good or too poor. The share of patients eligible declined to 31% after 4 weeks and 15% after 3 months. Within 3 months, 60% reached reasonable dexterity, expressed by an ARAT score ≯ 51, all receiving standard rehabilitation.ConclusionResults indicate that eligibility for CIMT or mCIMT should not be considered before 4 weeks post stroke because much improvement in arm function was shown to occur during the first month post stroke with standard rehabilitation.

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