Abstract This article examines literature related to the EBP problem of using the mCIMT intervention to help stroke patients regain motor function. Two studies are examined for their potential use in the EBP project. The first provides quantitative data obtained from a randomized controlled trial in which the mCIMT intervention was implemented. The second provides qualitative data obtained from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with three elderly stroke patients who underwent mCIMT to help restore motor function. The studies are examined and discussed in terms of research design, methods used, setting, participants, findings and results as well as well as relevance to the EBP; variables tested in the studies, and the implications of the findings for research and for this EBP in particularly. The studies are discussed in the context of the overall EBP project and the problem of obtaining further evidence to support the concept of mCIMT.

Keywords: mCIMT, stroke, rehabilitation, motor function stroke, CIMT

1

Research/Study

Singh and Pradhan (2013) conducted a randomized controlled trial with the focus being to determine the effectiveness of the mCIMT method among stroke patients. The study was quantitative in approach and experimental in design. It used two groups—one a control group and the other the intervention group. The intervention consisted of applying the mCIMT method; the control group received conventional rehabilitation therapy.

Method

The method used by Singh and Pradhan (2013) was the randomized controlled trial with 40 different stroke patients—half in the control group and half in the intervention group. Quantitative data was obtained from the participants, who were measured using the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) both at baseline and after the therapy. WMFT consisted...

The FMA measured motor recovery, balance, sensation, and joint range of motion. Writs and hand functions were also evaluated. Data was analyzed via SPSS v. 16, with a t-test analysis performed to compare differences between the control group and the experimental group.
Setting/Subject

In the study by Singh and Pradhan (2013) the setting was Central Referral Hospital and STNM Hospital in Sikkim, India. Subjects numbered 40 and were selected for being stroke patients who met the following criteria: “(1) Ischemic or hemorrhagic first ever sub-acute stroke subjects referred by physician between 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the onset, (2) both genders of any age, (3) having at least 10° of active extension of each metacarpophalengeal joints, inter-phalengeal joints of all the digits and 10° wrist extension of the affected limb, (4) spasticity grade ?1 according to Modified Ashworth Scale, (5) Mini Mental State Examination ?17” (Singh & Pradhan, 2013, p. 181).

Findings/Results

The findings of the study by Singh and Pradhan (2013) were that mCIMT is an effective intervention based on the WMFT pre-test and post-test score of 28.04 ± 6.58, 13.59 ± 2.86; P =0.003; and on the FMA pre- and post-test score of 31.15 ± 6.37, 55.7 ± 6.4; P = 0.00. The data showed that CIMT did improve motor function.

Variables

In the study by Singh and Pradhan (2013) the IV was the CIMT intervention with the use of mitt, and the DV were motor recovery, balance, sensation, and joint range of motion as well as wrist and hand function, or in short measured joint segment movement and integrated functional movements.

Implications for Practice

The…