Purpose:
Balance and gait disorders are common motor complications after stroke. Studies have revealed that conventional physiotherapy cannot manage these disorders efficiently, so more studies addressing causes of these complications and presenting efficient treatment protocols are crucial. Concerning the significant effect of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on treatment of upper limbs motor impairments in hemiparetic patients, the goal of this study is to assess the effect of “Constraint Induced Movement Therapy” on symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters and velocity of gait in hemiparetic patients.
Methods:
Thirty hemiparetic patients (aged from 40 to 60 years) participated in this study. Patients were divided randomly into 2 groups. They received constraint induced movement therapy (group1) and mass practice (group 2) for 3 weeks. Experimental assessments of patients included stride velocity and symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters (spatial step symmetry, temporal stance symmetry, temporal swing asymmetry, overall temporal asymmetry) that were recorded and compared before and after treatment. In addition, the amount of weight bearing asymmetry was assessed via dual force platform.
Results:
In both groups, stride velocity increased (p=0.03, p=0.01). In group A, spatial step symmetry increased (p=0.02).Temporal swing asymmetry and overall temporal asymmetry decreased (p=0.01). In group B, only temporal swing asymmetry decreased (p=0.02).
Conclusion:
Physical therapy by “constraint induced movement therapy” can improve symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters efficiently through overcoming the “learned non use “phenomenon and improving the somatosensory deafferentation to motor controller centers.