Christina Brogårdh, Monika Vestling, Bengt H. Sjölund
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-0312

Objective: To examine the effect of using a mitt during shortened constraint-induced movement therapy for patients in the subacute phase after stroke.
Subjects: Twenty-four patients with stroke (mean age 57. 6 (standard deviation (SD) 8. 5) years; average 7 weeks post-stroke) with mild to moderate impaired hand function.
Methods: The patients were randomized to mitt use or no mitt use on the less affected hand for 90% of waking hours for 12 days. All patients received 3 h of arm and hand training per day for 2 weeks. Assessments were made by blinded observers using the modified Motor Assessment Scale, the Sollerman hand function test, the 2-Point Discrimination test and Motor Activity Log test.
Results: Patients in both groups showed significant improvements in arm and hand motor performance and on self-¬reported motor ability after 2 weeks of therapy and at 3 months follow-up. However, no statistically significant differences between the groups were found in any measures at any point in time.
Conclusion: In this study, no effect of using a restraint in patients with subacute stroke was found. Thus, this component in the constraint-induced therapy concept seems to be of minor importance for the outcome.