The Effect of Virtual Rehabilitation and Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) on Improving Upper Extremity Motor Activity Post-Stroke

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) augmented by Virtual Rehabilitation in improving upper extremity activity capacity and ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Study Design: Pre/Post Quasi Experimental Study. Place and Duration of Study: It was carried out at the Physiotherapy department at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi in collaboration with Islamic International Medical College, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan from March 2015 to March 2016. Materials and Methods: The study included 20 stroke patients who were subjected to Constraint Induced Movement Therapy augmented by Virtual Rehabilitation using Nintendo WiiTM four times a week for four weeks. Upper extremity activity capacity and Activities of daily living (ADL) were measured pre- and postintervention using Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and Barthel Index respectively. Results: The ARAT improved from a pre-intervention mean score of 16.20+3.942 to 48.30+5.768 postintervention (p<0.001). Barthel index showed improvement from the pre-intervention mean score of 9.05+2.544 to a post-intervention mean score of 16.80+1.609 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Virtual rehabilitation using Nintendo WiiTM has a positive impact on upper extremity motor recovery and subsequently the ability to carry out Activities of Daily Living, if used as an adjunct to Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT).

Keywords

• constraint induced movement therapy (cimt), nintendo wiitm, stroke, upper extremity motor capacity, virtual rehabilitation.