COMPERATIVE EFFECTS of CONSTRAINT- INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY and MIRROR THERAPY on FUNCTIONAL AMBULATION and QUALITY of LIFE in CHRONIC STROKE PATIENTS

Summary

Stroke is a global health issue as this happens when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted or reduced, depriving the brain tissue of sugar and oxygen. This interruption affects the brain cells hence leading to the loss of a cell Various physical, cognitive and emotional losses are experienced. Cerebrovascular accident or simply stroke, is the fifth cause of mortality and one of the most common causes of disability in the United States of America (Campbell et al., 2019). There are two main types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke is characterized by an occlusion of a cerebral artery by an embolus or thrombus while hemorrhagic stroke results from a hemorrhage in the brain due to rupture of a blood vessel. A TIA or so-called mini stroke occurs when the clot is not severe enough to result in lasting symptoms (Feigin et al., 2022; Strilciuc et al., 2023).

Strokes substantially affect an individual mobility and overall quality of life, although few comparative studies comparing CIMT and MT exist in the literature. This research therefore seeks to systematically compare the effects of these two interventions on functional ambulation and quality of life of chronic stroke patients. Hereby, the research compares structured, task specific CIMT with the less structured, more general approach of MT in order to offer clinicians empirically founded recommendations on what course of action might prove effective for patients. This study also provides new insights to the field given that it not only describes the potential of CIMT within outpatient physiotherapy treatment but also provides an overview of the long-term effects for patients with stroke. These outcomes of this study will be useful in developing rehabilitative research, improving clinical practice protocols, and thereby improve the lifestyles of people living with chronic stroke.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Mirror Therapy
• Quality of Life (QOL)

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT))

A well-defined and structured rehabilitation program that restricts the use of the unaffected limb to promote the functional recovery of the affected limb in chronic stroke patients(Franck et al., 2019). Sit-to-stand transitions, Indoor overground walking (forward, backward, and sideways), Weight-bearing movements in different directions: Stepping over obstacles and climbing stairs, Ideally, specific tasks to involve the paretic limb according to the activity of stroke survivors. This task was repeated ten times as part of the therapy sessions. Dynamic strengthening exercises like squats and lunges are integrated, progressively increasing intensity as patients gain confidence and strength. Balance and core stability exercises, including single-leg stances and seated weight shifts on therapy balls, address postural control and stability.(Cabanas-Valdés \& Boix-Sala, 2021)

BEHAVIORAL

Mirror Therapy

A specific intervention that uses a mirror to create a visual illusion of the affected limb, with the goal of improving motor function and quality of life in chronic stroke patients. The MT protocol included 10 minutes of warm-up, 1 hour of mirror box training, and 50 minutes of functional task practice. The warm-up activities included stretching and passive range of motion exercises. During the mirror box training, a mirror box that reflected the image of the unaffected arm was placed in the participant's midsagittal plane. Participants were required to symmetrically move both hands as simultaneously as possible while watching the reflection of the unaffected arm in the mirror as if it were the affected one. To ensure that the participants focused on the reflection, the unaffected arm was placed in the mirror box, and vision of the affected arm was occluded by a vertical board placed beside the mirror box. The activities consisted of transitive (eg, gross motor tasks, such as reaching

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• IQRA Mubeen, MS IN NEUROLOGY · University of Lahore

• Asim Rana, MS MSK · University of Lahore

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-01-26

Primary Completion

2024-11-12

Completion

2024-12-20

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations