CONSTRAINT INDUCED THERAPY IN GROUP FORMAT FOR RECOVERY OF MOTOR FUNCTION OF UPPER LIMB: COMPARING TWO PROTOCOLS
Stroke; upper limb; rehabilitation; motor skill
Objective: To compare the administration of constraint-induced therapy (CIT) with the original protocol of 6 hours and modified protocol of 3 hours in the neurofunctional recovery of post-stroke patients in group format. Methods: Eleven patients from the Physiotherapy School Clinic of the UFRN / FACISA were selected, all of whom were diagnosed with stroke to participate in a group CIT program. Of these 11 patients, 8 participated in the first phase consisting of the application of the CIT protocol 3h daily for 10 treatment days, 5 months later 5 patients from the 8 patients who participated in the first phase and 3 new patients participated in an CIT program in group for 6h daily for 10 treatment days. In both protocols all major CIT principles (shaping, task practice and behavioral package) were used. In both phases the group of patients was supervised by a multidisciplinary team. The motor and functional recovery of the patients were evaluated through the Wolf Motor Function Test, the Motor Activity Log and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure by an independent evaluator in six moments: immediately before the 3h program, immediately after the 3h program, 3 months after the program of 3, immediately before the program of 6h, immediately after the program 6h and 3 months after the program of 6h. Results: The CIT in group format demonstrated a motivating reinforcement for the study participants. Participants achieved statistically and clinically significant improvements in motor and functional recovery and were maintained over a 3-month follow-up period in both protocols, however the results were better in the 3-hour protocol. Conclusion: CIT in its group format produces favorable results and the application of a protocol with shorter duration (3 hours) presents more significant results, being more feasible its application.