CIMT seems to be an effective and feasible method to improve motor function in the short term, but no long-term effect was found.

Despite a favorable effect of CIMT on timed movement measures immediately after treatment, significant effects were not found after 6 months.

Grip strength is often reduced after a stroke. This affects the ability to maintain grip strength over time and to in crease force rapidly. Consequently, this also reduces the ability to cope with everyday activities. This study found that these aspects of grip strength were considerably reduced in the affected hand during the first weeks after stroke in patients with mild to moderate stroke. How ever, the participants showed good progress during the first year after stroke. All aspects of grip strength impro ved considerably, especially during the first 6 months. To optimize the improvement in hand function, stroke rehabilitation should have a specific focus on all aspects of grip strength. For instance, practicing the ability to maintain a powerful grip while carrying a shopping bag or increasing force rapidly while squeezing an object. Objective: To assess recovery of grip strength during the first year post-stroke. Design: Exploratory study on a subsample of patients participating in the Norwegian Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy trial. Subjects: Eleven patients (mean age 59.1 years; 3 women) with mild to moderate stroke were recruited 7-29 days post-stroke. Methods: An electronic dynamometer (Biometrics Ltd, Gwent, UK, 2006) was used to assess maximum grip force in 5 hand positions, rate of force development and sustainability of grip force. Similar assessments were performed to assess pinch strength. The participants were assessed 5 times during a 1-year period. Results: Grip force in the affected hand increased in all handle positions during the 1-year follow-up, mostly during the first 6 months. At 2 and 4 weeks, rate of force development was less than half, and relative sustainability of grip force showed 20-30% greater deficit than for the non-affected hand. The affected hand approached the values of the non-affected hand after 6 months with little further progress until 1-year follow-up. Conclusion: Grip strength in the affected hand improved considerably in the first year post-stroke. Patterns of improvement were similar across tests, i.e. rapid during the first weeks, slower until 6 months, and minimal 6-12 months post-stroke.

Overall adherence was good; however, time spent in motor activity was only one-third of total treatment time. The parameters in the constraint-induced movement therapy protocol should be individually adjusted early after stroke.

Background and Purpose: A direct comparison between the effects of constraint-induced