Comparison between two different protocols of lower limb constraint-induced movement therapy following stroke: a randomised controlled trial protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Studies on upper limb constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) showed that using number of repetitions of task practice is effective. The aim of this study is to translate this to the lower limb.

Method: The study is a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a protocol using number of repetitions with a protocol using hours of task practice. Stroke patients with asymmetrical stance, ability to stand and walk with minimal assistance, and with no significant cognitive impairment will be randomised into two groups, A and B. Group A will perform 600 repetitions of tasks per day, 5 days a week for four weeks. Group B will perform task practice for three hours a day for the same period. In both groups, participants will be asked to restrict the use of the unaffected limb during the training session (behavioural constraint). Outcomes of the study will be assessed using lower limb Fugl Meyer, lower extremity motor activity log (LE-MAL), Rivermead mobility index (RMI), Berg balance scale (BBS), modified Ashworth scale (MAS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and 10-metre walk test (10MWT). Demographic characteristics of the participants will be analysed using descriptive statistics; while the data on the outcomes of interest will be analysed using t-test and repeated measures ANOVA or the non-parametric equivalent.

Keywords:

• Cerebrovascular accident
• motor recovery
• constraint-induced movement therapy
• clinical trial
• lower limb

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.