ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate a task-oriented approach program consisting of modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (m-CIMT) and bimanual activities used to impact the affected upper extremity function and activities of daily living (ADL) performance for five stroke patients. Methods : Five subjects, each suffering from stroke hemiplegia, wore a glove to create limited movement on their unaffected hand during a three-week period during their most active 5 hours of the day, and performed tasks for a limited period of time. Their bimanual movement activity was non-limited on their unaffected side, and bimanual ADL tasks were performed during one week. An assessment of their upper extremity function was made using an adapted Manual Function Test (MFT), while their changes of ADL functions were measured using an Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). A Friedman test with repeated measurements was used to verify the significant differences of the analysis results, and a Wilcoxon matchpaired sign-rank test was used to ascertain the differences between the subjects before and after treatment. Results : The subjects’upper extremity function and ADL performance function were significantly improved after Modified Constrain-induced Movement therapy (m-CIMT) and bimanual activity. After m-CIMT, the upper extremity function and ADL performance function of hemiplegia patients were significantly improved, even after a task-oriented approach, but no positive effects were shown at significant levels. Conclusion : Through these study results, it was found that carrying out m-CIMT and bimanual activities in an applied task-oriented approach improved the functional use of the affected side of stroke patients. This treatment program was found to effectively improve the patients’upper extremity and ADL functions.