Keywords: Constraint-Induced, constraint induced, CIMT, constraint induced therapy, constraint induced movement therapy, constraint-induced movement therapy
What Is CI Therapy?
Constraint-Induced Movement therapy or CI therapy is a new therapeutic approach to rehabilitation of movement after stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is currently underway at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
CI therapy is a family of treatments; that teach the brain to "rewire" itself following a major injury such as stroke or head injury. This is based on research by Edward Taub, Ph.D. and collaborators at this institution that showed that patients can "learn" to improve the ability to move the weaker parts of their bodies and thus cease to rely exclusively or primarily on the stronger extremities. These therapies have significantly improved quality of movement and substantially increased the amount of use of the more-affected extremities in the activities of daily living for a large majority of patients who have received the treatment. It is the only rehabilitation technique shown to produce a marked change in brain organization and function.
The research laboratory conducts many different CI therapy projects. Treatment is at no cost. The requirements for acceptance depend on the particular projects being carried out at any given time. The current research projects apply to CI therapy for the arm after stroke or TBI. CI therapy for the leg has been temporarily halted in the laboratory, but it is presently offered in the Taub Therapy Clinic.