Telehealth and constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) : An intensive case study approach

Abstract Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Stroke survivors often experience motor sequelae characterized by hemiparesis in the upper extremity contralateral to the brain lesion. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is an effective treatment for post-stroke hemiparesis. In this study, two stroke survivors completed clinic-based CIMT and, subsequently, a home-based CIMT trial (tele-CIMT) incorporating telecommunications technology. Outcome measures were administered at pre-, post-, and follow-up time points. Partial confirmation was obtained for the effectiveness of tele-CIMT as an alternate mode of treatment. Improvements in motor skills were evidenced across both clinic- and tele-CIMT modalities, from baseline to follow up, for both participants. Future research directions are addressed, especially studies comparing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of tele-CIMT versus standard clinic CIMT.