Riassunto dello studio

Nine studies containing a total of 558 post-stroke patients were included in this meta-analysis comparing constraint-induced movement therapy vs control for the improvement of patient-reported health status and functionality. The pooled outcomes of interest included patient-reported health status of the upper limb and lower limb, motor function of the upper and lower limb, quality and quantity of movement of the upper limb, and activities of daily living of the upper limb. Outcomes were assessed at the post-intervention and follow-up time-points; a sub-group analysis of patients in the subacute and chronic stage was performed for health status of the upper and lower limb at follow up. Results revealed no statistically significant differences in pooled patient-reported health status in the upper limb post-intervention, lower limb post-intervention, lower limb at follow-up, upper and lower limb post-intervention and at follow up, and upper and lower limb at follow up in patients recruited in the subacute and chronic stage (p>0.05 for all). However, pooled motor function post-operation in the upper and lower limb (p=0.02), and quality and quantity of movement in the upper limb post-intervention (p<0.0001 for both) were statistically significantly in favour of the constraint-induced therapy group. Furthermore, no statistical significant difference in the pooled activities of daily living score for the upper limb was observed between the two groups (p=0.42).