Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular and Neurosurgery

Background: Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) describes package of interventions designed to decrease the impact of a stroke on upper-limb (UL) function in some stroke survivors. It is a neuro rehabilitation method that proved to induce neural plasticity after stroke. However, there are limited controlled trials discussing the cortical activity changes after CIMT in stroke. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding constraint induced movement therapy to selected physical therapy program on cortical activity and functional outcome of upper extremity in chronic stroke patients. Subjects and Methods: Forty stroke patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups: study group received functional training with CIMT in addition to a selected physical therapy program and control group received the selected physical therapy program only.The treatment sessions were conducted two hours a day, five times per week, for successive four weeks.The outcome measures included; motor function of the upper extremity using the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and cortical activity of the affected cerebral hemisphere using Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG).These measures were obtained before and after the completion of treatment sessions

Issued also as CD