Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy After Stroke

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a neurological rehabilitation treatment designed to improve upper and lower extremities motor functions after stroke. The basis of CIMT is improving the function of the affected limb after a stroke by restricting the use of the healthy limb and forcing the use of the affected side. The core strategy of CIMT is the application of movement techniques, behavioral techniques and restriction methods to increase the frequency of use of the affected limb in stroke patients, improve the quality of movement of the affected limb in real-life scenarios, prevent or correct the learned non-use of the affected limb, and promote the recovery of motor function in the affected limb. This method induces the use of the affected limb, corrects or reverses habitual disuse and neglect of the affected limb, and provides structural and functional training and repeated practice opportunities for the affected limb.