Application of constraint-induced movement therapy in clinical practice: an online survey

Abstract

Objective: To investigate current knowledge and application in practice of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) by therapists within the United Kingdom.

Design: An online 19-item survey.

Setting: Neurological rehabilitation.

Participants: Occupational therapists and physiotherapists (N=489) currently working or within 3 months of working with the adult acquired brain injury population were recruited from 2 specialist interest groups.

Interventions: Database administrators of 2 specialist interest groups circulated an e-mail to all therapists on the database to invite them to complete the online survey.

Main outcome measures: Not applicable.

Results: Most therapists (62.9%, n=306) had not used CIMT. Those who had used it were only using 2 or 3 components of the core 7-component CIMT protocol. Therapists identified 2 main barriers to the implementation of CIMT: lack of resources (staffing; 20.7%, n=63) and lack of training (20%, n=61).

Conclusions: Adoption into practice remains limited. Despite a significant evidence base in support of CIMT, most therapists are not using CIMT in practice. This article indicates how concerns and barriers related to CIMT may be minimized to translate this robust intervention from research into clinical practice.

Keywords: ABI; Brain injuries; CIMT; Data collection; EXCITE; Extremity Constraint Induced Therapy Evaluation (trial); Rehabilitation; Stroke; TBI; Therapy; UK; United Kingdom; Upper extremity; acquired brain injury; constraint-induced movement therapy; traumatic brain injury.