Ithaca College graduate occupational therapy students along with their faculty advisor, Shannon L. Scott, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, are recruiting participants who are stroke survivors for an upcoming IRB approved research study (#450) on Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy.
We are looking for participants who are, 18+ years of age, 6+ months post stroke, experiencing hemiplegia in their arm and hand and have at minimum.
- Some ability to lift their arm away from their body at the shoulder.
- Some ability to bend their elbow as if bringing their hand to their mouth.
- Some ability to flex their fingers to form a loose fist.
- Some ability to extend/open some of their fingers after making a loose fist.
Participants should also have limited tone/spasticity in their arm and hand as well as limited balance difficulties, minimal cognitive dysfunction, and currently not receiving other therapies.
Modified constraint induced movement therapy (mCIMT) is an intervention that involves repetitively using the hemiplegic arm and hand to complete varying functional tasks that require reaching, grasping, moving, lifting etc. with the arm and hand. The unaffected hand is placed in a mitt to “constrain” it and force use of the involved arm and hand. Engaging in repetitive use of the affected side is supported as an evidence-based intervention and recommended by stroke clinical practice guidelines.
When and Where: The study will take place at the Ithaca College Classroom at Longview Senior Living facility or at the Center for Health Sciences at Ithaca College (as needed) in Ithaca, NY. The study will have an overall time commitment of 6 weeks, with a possible one hour follow up in early January 2024, if able to attend.
For the 6 weeks, participants will be asked to attend one 2-hour session/week with researchers, complete one hour of home mCIMT for an additional 4 days/week and wear a constraint (mitt) on the unaffected hand for 50% of waking hours (roughly 8 hours/day) 5 days per week. Participants will also be asked to keep a daily log of their home program.
All participants who attend ONE intervention session will receive a $25 gift card for their participation in at least one intervention session. Potential benefits to participation in this study include increased movement and function in the affected side, and greater participation in daily activities. There are minimal risks involved in this study to include possible delayed onset muscle soreness and potential mild frustration.
If you, or if you know of anyone who may fit these criteria, please have them contact the ICOT Graduate Researchers at CIMTresearch23@gmail.com
