Effectiveness of Combined Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) and Single Osteokinematic Exercises (SOE) on Upper Extremity Motor Function in Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Restoring upper limb motor function is critical in post-stroke rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined mCIMT-OE and SOE on upper limb motor function recovery in stroke patients.

Metode: In this open-label, two-arm, parallel-group, superiority randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest design, 64 patients with ischemic stroke-related hemiparesis, preserved consciousness (GCS ≥14), the ability to follow simple commands, and residual voluntary upper extremity movement were recruited from dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh. Through the stratified permuted block randomization method, participants were evenly distributed into the mCIMT-OE group (n=32) or SOE group (n=32). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) was utilized as the primary outcome measure for the six-day intervention.

Result: All randomized participants successfully completed the study and were accounted for in the final analysis. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in FMA-UE scores (p<0.001). In the mCIMT-OE group (n=32), the mean score increased from 39.31 ± 12.10 to 45.72 ± 12.25 (MD:-6.41; 95% CI: -6.71 to -6.10). Similarly, the SOE group showed a significant increase from 34.88 ± 11.38 to 40.34 ± 12.01 (MD: -5.47; 95% CI: -5.83 to -5.10). No adverse events were reported during the intervention.

Conclusion: Both mCIMT-OE and SOE protocols are safe and effective in improving upper extremity motor function among stroke patients, with mCIMT-OE demonstrating a slightly higher mean improvement.