Combined Effect of CIMT and Brunnstrom Therapy on UE in Stroke Patients

Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Remarkably, approximately 90 percent of strokes have modifiable risk factors, indicating that stroke prevention is largely possible. UE impairments are the common consequence among stroke patients, resulting in a higher likelihood of residual paralysis in the upper limb. These impairments significantly affect the performance of daily activities and diminish patients' quality of life.This study aims to determine the combined effects of constraint induced movement therapy and brunnstrom movement therapy on upper limb spasticity, motor activity and quality of life in stroke patients. This randomized controlled trial will be carried out at in Multan over 10 months after approval of synopsis. Total number of 56 participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be included in this study through a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Participants will be randomly assigned into 2 groups using computer generated method. Group A participants will receive both CIMT and brunnstrom movement therapy with routine physical therapy while Group B participants will receive only CIMT with routine physical therapy. Both groups will receive interventions for five days a week for 4 weeks. The outcome measuring sacales used will be FMUE scale to assess motor activity, FIM scale to assess spasticity and Modified Ashworth scale to assess spasticity. For within group analysis paired t-test will be applied for parametric data. For between group analysis independent t-test will be applied for parametric data. Data analysis will be performed by using SPSS 28 version.

Inclusion criteria

• Age group between 40 and 70 years
• Both male and female
• Patient being diagnosed with hemiplegic stroke
• Patient having hemorrhagic stroke or ischemic stroke
• Patient able to give their consent for rehabilitation program
• Patient having 24 or higher score from Standardized Mini-Mental Test
• Patient being able to stand for 2 min without assistance from a person

Exclusion criteria

• Patient with cognitive impairment or dementia
• Patient having any other disease that prevents participation in the rehabilitation program
• Patient that participated in any ongoing rehabilitation program
• Patient having pain in UE 4 or higher according to the Visual Analog Scale which is scored 0-10
• Patient had spasticity in any joint of the UE and scored 2 or higher according to the Modified Ashworth Scale