Constraint-induced therapy versus dose-matched control intervention to improve motor ability, basic/extended daily functions, and quality of life in stroke.

Background: Trials of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIT) to improve upper extremity function after stroke have usually not included an actively treated control group.

Objective: This study compared a modified CIT intervention with a dose-matched control intervention that included restraint of the less affected hand and assessed for differences in motor and functional performance and health-related quality of life.

Methods: This 2-group randomized controlled trial, using pretreatment and posttreatment measures, enrolled 32 patients within 6 to 40 months after onset of a first stroke (mean age, 55.

Poor functional recovery may indicate restenosis in patients after coronary angioplasty.

Objective: To investigate whether poor response to exercise training can detect restenosis in asymptomatic patients after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: A hospital-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in Taiwan.

Improvement of cardiorespiratory function after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a 3-mo training program for patients with either a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Design: Forty-four patients participated in a 3-mo outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. Graded exercise tests with gas analysis were conducted before and after training to evaluate the changes of cardiorespiratory function.