Comparing Clinic-Based and Online Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for Improving Upper Limb Function in Adults With Recent Stroke

What this Trial Is About

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term neurological disability worldwide, often causing significant upper limb motor problems that affect daily function and quality of life. This research aims to compare two ways of delivering Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy CIMT, a rehabilitation method that encourages use of the affected arm by restricting the unaffected one and focusing on specific, intense training tasks. The study will evaluate these methods in people who have had a stroke within the past six months. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving CIMT in a clinical setting with direct supervision, and the other receiving the same therapy through a structured online telerehabilitation platform, also supervised. Both groups will undergo the intervention for eight weeks, with treatments including restraining the unaffected limb for 5-6 hours daily and performing targeted exercises like reaching, grasping, and lifting. Throughout the study, researchers will assess participants upper limb function and muscle spasticity using tests such as the Action Research Arm Test and the Wolf Motor Function Test at the start and after eight weeks of treatment. The study will monitor progress and functional improvements to understand how well each delivery method supports motor recovery after stroke.

Comparative Effects of Telerehabilitation and Clinic Based Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on Upper Limb Function in Sub-Acute Stroke Patients