Which Are the Variables That Better Explain Results of Lower Extremity-constraint Induced Movement Therapy?

Research Objectives: To analyze which are the variables, on the evaluation process, that could better explain results of Lower Extremity-Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (LE-CIMT).

Design: Quasi-experimental, observational, retrospective

Setting: Referral Center: Adults physiotherapy department at Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente.

Participants: Chronic hemiparesis due to Stroke, ≥18 years old, who underwent to LE-CIMT between 2017 June and 2024 April.

Interventions: LE-CIMT (15 days, 3h/day). It is composed of intensive supervised training and a behavioral package.

Main Outcome Measures: The outcome variables were Lower Extremity - Motor Activity Log/Brazil (LE-MAL/Brazil) and its Assistance, Performance and confidence subscales. The associated co-variables were Mini-BESTest, 6min (6mWT) and 10m-Walk test (10mWT), and Timed Up And Go (TUG).

Results: 45 patients were included with a mean age of 57 years old (20-84), with 32 months from the onset (7-168), 56% were male and 62% presented left hemiparesis. The 6minWT and TUG presented significant correlation with LE-MAL/Brazil changes (r=-0,36 and r=0,35, respectively), with a significant correlation between LE-MAL/Brazil Confidence subscale and patients age (r=-0,36). The change of Assistance, Performance and Confidence subscales presented a significant correlation with 6minWT (r= -0.34; r=0,36 e r=0,37, respectively) and TUG change (r= 0.38; r=0,32 and r= 0.34, respectively).

Conclusions: The present study showed that younger patients with bigger commitment of Mobility and gait distance had better results of LE-CIMT. Additionally, patients who achieved longer distances by the end of LE-CIMT presented better improvement perception of Performance and Confidence.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors declare no interest disclosure