European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSTRAINT-INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY AND MIRROR THERAPY COMBINED WITH NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FOR IMPROVING HAND FUNCTION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC STROKE

*Korukonda Venkata Surya Prakash, Pilli Akshaya Madhuri

ABSTRACT

Background: Upper limb impairment is one of the most common and disabling consequences of stroke, significantly affecting functional independence and quality of life. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and Mirror Therapy (MT), when combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), are widely used rehabilitation strategies to improve hand function following stroke. However, evidence comparing the effectiveness of these combined interventions remains limited. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Mirror Therapy combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in improving hand function among individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 30 individuals with chronic stroke aged 18–65 years who presented with impaired hand function. Participants were allocated into two groups using convenience sampling. Group A (n = 15) received Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, whereas Group B (n = 15) received Mirror Therapy combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation. Both groups underwent 15 treatment sessions over three weeks (five sessions per week). Outcome measures included the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) for spasticity and the Box and Block Test (BBT) for manual dexterity. Paired t-test and independent t-test were used for within-group and between-group analyses, respectively, with a significance level of p & lt; 0.05. Results: Thirty participants completed the study. Group A demonstrated a significant reduction in spasticity, with Modified Ashworth Scale scores improving from 3.33 ± 0.72 to 2.46 ± 1.06 (p = 0.0137). Both groups demonstrated improvement in hand function following intervention. However, between-group comparisons showed no statistically significant differences in Modified Ashworth Scale or Box and Block Test scores based on the available data. Conclusion: Both Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Mirror Therapy combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation demonstrated clinical improvements in hand function among individuals with chronic stroke. Based on the available statistical findings, no significant difference was observed between the two intervention groups. Further randomized controlled studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Stroke; Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy; Mirror Therapy; Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation; Hand Function; Upper Limb Rehabilitation; Neuroplasticity.