Viewpoints of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and patients regarding traditional and novel approaches to Constraint-induced movement therapy in the Czech Republic

Background: The comprehensive therapeutic program, Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), focuses on functional training of the paretic upper limb and the transfer of acquired skills in daily life. Aim: The purpose of the survey was to map the current experience of therapists and patients with the therapeutic toolkit and home activity monitoring. Methods: The components of CIMT currently used, monitoring forms, barriers to provision, and motivations and subjectively perceived limitations for the use of technology in rehabilitation for activity monitoring were explored with the use of on-line surveys. Results: A total of 95 occupational therapists and physiotherapists and 91 patients participated in the survey. Czech therapists reported the most common perceived barriers that limit CIMT provision were as follows: low number of suitable patients, lack of knowledge of the method, increased administrative and time demands, or concerns about the high demands of the method for patients. The patients themselves are then limited in participating in the program due to its low accessibility or fear of the high difficulty of the exercise. As part of monitoring, patients complete a paper exercise diary (36%) or less frequently one on a computer (6.7%), but most often they do not track the results (40.4%). A total of 55% of patient respondents are motivated to share their results electronically with their therapist. Conclusions: According to the survey results, patients with spastic paresis of the upper limb after brain injury are motivated to participate in remote therapy and share results of home exercise remotely. The application of innovative approaches in CIMT and activity monitoring increases the availability of therapeutic interventions with potential cost reduction in clinical practice.