Changes in the brain activation balance in motor-related areas after constraint-induced movement therapy; a longitudinal fMRI study.

Primary Objective: This study investigated the longitudinal changes in brain activation balance in motor-related areas after Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT).

Methods And Procedures: The subjects included seven ischemic stroke patients with mild right hemiparesis. Eight normal subjects were also included. The patients underwent functional MRI and motor function tests (Fugl-Meyer Assessment; FMA, modified Wolf Motor Function Test; mWMFT) both before and immediately after CIMT and also after a 3-month follow-up.

Results: The motor function test scores improved immediately after CIMT; moreover, these scores were either maintained or improved even at the 3-month follow-up. In a comparison of the chronological data of the contralaterality index of the affected hand movement, the cerebellar activity changed significantly to ipsilateral activation immediately after CIMT and thereafter the cerebellar activity further changed to ipsilateral activation at the 3-month follow-up. A correlation was observed among the contralateral activation, FMA and mWMFT scores in SM1 and the ipsilateral activation and in the mWMFT scores in the cerebellum at the 3-month follow-up examinations.

Conclusion: The participation of the contralateral SM1 and the ipsilateral cerebellum is thus considered to play an important role in the satisfactory recovery of the motor function after CIMT intervention.