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December 1, 2009

Constraint Induced Therapy

Today, we learned about constraint induced therapy for people with strokes and traumatic brain injuries. The concept involves putting a mitt on the normal hand of a patient so they cannot use it to assist with daily activities. The affected hand is responsible for doing everyday tasks such as opening cabinets and brushing your teeth. This can be a tall order for someone who has lost much of the use of one side of their body due to a stroke.

What is amazing is that most of the subjects in research trials have had hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body) for more than a year. Improvements in the ability to use their affected arm were remarkable from a clinical perspective. And their improved function was still present a year after their constraint induced therapy. In the past, it was believed that functional improvement was most likely to occur within a small window of time following a stroke. Thanks to advances in understanding concerning neuroplasticity, the sky is the limit for potential improvements following stroke. One research participant who had been living with a brain injury for 36 years showed great improvement in function after participating in the study.

But the therapy isn't just about forced use of one hand over the other. A large component of the therapy includes upkeep of an activity log on a daily basis. This constant attention raises the participant's awareness of what they are doing and how they are executing the task. It is not inconceivable that technology, such as the FitBit, can be retrofitted to help monitor activity of study participants, much the way technology has been used to monitor study participants for falls risk.

Personally, I find this research exciting because much of it has been conducted at UAB's Spain Rehab Hospital across the street from where I go to school. Other studies have been conducted at the Birimingham VA Medical Center where I will have my first clinical internship starting in February. It may be possible for me to use constraint induced therapy with veterans and members of their family who have sustained a stroke or experience brain injury while on active duty.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health stroke

Posted by linda at December 1, 2009 3:42 PM