This meta-analysis investigated the effects on arm motor impairment, arm motor function and disability, and psychological aspects of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) for upper extremity hemiparesis following stroke, based on Korean studies. A comprehensive search of the complete Korean studies information service system (KISS), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korea National Library, and the Korean Medical Database to September 2011 was conducted. Eleven eligible controlled clinical trials compared CIMT to a control group or an alternative treatment. All outcome measures of arm motor impairment, arm motor function and disability, and psychological aspects were pooled for calculating effect size. The overall effect size of CIMT was .700 (95% confidence interval=.482~.918). The CIMT programs showed large effect on the aspect of arm motor function and disability (the effect size is .920) and the psychological aspect (the effect size is .946). The effect of CIMT on arm motor impairment was moderate (the effect size is .588). These results show that CIMT may improve upper extremity motor impairment, function and disability, and psychological aspects following stroke. However, these results were based on a small number of studies, and not all of them were randomized control trials. Additional research is needed to include larger well-designed trials to resolve these uncertainties.

Environmental Enrichment (EE) alone is not capable of enhancing the fine digit and the forelimb functions. Therefore, we applied modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) under the influence of EE to assess its effect on promoting improved forelimb sensorimotor functions. Focal ischemic brain injury was produced in Sprague-Dawley rats (60 rats, 250±50 g) through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Before MCAO induction, all rats were trained in modified limb placing tests and reaching tasks for 1 week. Then they were randomly divided into three groups: Group I: application of standard environment (SE) after MCAO induction (n=20), Group II: application of EE after MCAO induction (n=20), Group III: MCAO+EE, mCIMT and task-oriented training that was initiated at 10th day after MCAO induction (n=20). We also applied mCIMT (between 9 AM and 5 PM/daily) which included restraining the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesion using the 'Jones & Schallert' method. We assessed the change of modified limb placing, single pellet reaching test and the immunoreactivity of BDNF by immunohistochemistry (pre, 1st, 5th, 10th and 20th day). Group I showed no improved outcome, whereas group II and III significantly improved on the use of the forelimb and the immunoreactivity. The qualitative analysis of the skilled reaching test, of group III showed the greatest improvement in the fine digit and the forelimb function. These results suggest that EE combined with mCIMT is more functional in promoting enhanced fine digit and forelimb functional movements.

뇌 손상 후 급성기에 기능의 자발적인 회복이 일어나지만 환자들은 환측의 상지를 잘 사용하지 못하게 된다. 그 결과 원하는 움직임을 억제하는 상황을 발생시키는데 이것을 학습 무사용 증후군(learned nonu se syndrome)이라 한다. 이러한 학습 무사용 증후군을 치료하기 위해 억제-유도 치료(constraint-induced therapy)가 고안되었다. 억제-유도 치료는 연속되는 몇 주간에 걸쳐 매일 많은 시간 동안 건측의 상지를 묶어두고 환