Effects of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on upper limb activity according to a bi-dimensional kinematic analysis in progressive multiple sclerosis patients: a randomized single-blind pilot study.

Effects of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on upper limb activity according to a bi-dimensional kinematic analysis in progressive multiple sclerosis patients: a randomized single-blind pilot study. Funct Neurol. 2019 Jul/Sep;34(3):151-157 Authors: de Sire A, Mauro A, Priano L, Baudo S, Bigoni M, Solaro C Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, characterized by demyelinization and axonal loss resulting, in 66% of cases, in upper limb motor impairment. The effects of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) have recently been investigated in MS patients. The aim of this randomized single-blind pilot study was to assess the effects of CIMT on upper limb activity, specifically smoothness of movement, in patients affected by progressive MS. Patients affected by MS, and reporting reduced use primarily of one upper limb, were enrolled and randomly allocated to two different groups: a CIMT group, where treatment was performed with the less affected limb immobilized by a splint, and a control group, submitted to intensive bi-manual treatment. All evaluations were performed at baseline (T0) and after two weeks of treatment (T1) by an operator unaware of the patients' allocation. The primary outcome was the difference in movement smoothness, measured by means of a bidimensional kinematic evaluation. Secondary outcomes were: endpoint error and arm trajectory mean speed. Furthermore, patients per...
Source: Functional Neurology - Category: Neurology Tags: Funct Neurol Source Type: research