Background: Hand burns are very challenging and many therapeutic interventions have been introduced to enhance hand function post-burns, however, poor outcomes are still seen.
Aim: This aimed to explore the effect of a constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) on burned dominant hand function.
Patients and methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial included thirty-four patients with dorsal dominant hand burn. They ranged in age from 20 to 35. The patients were gathered from Hospitals of Cairo University and split into two groups at random; 17 patients in group (A) who received CIMT in addition to traditional therapy, and 17 patients in group (B) who only received traditional therapy, which included range of motion (ROM) exercises, positioning, strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, and occupational activities. Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint ROM, hand grip strength, and function were assessed using a finger goniometer, hand dynamometer, and Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) respectively prior, following 4 weeks, and 8 weeks of therapy.
Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in terms of MCP joint ROM, hand grip strength and MHQ scales after 4 and after 8 weeks of therapy (p=0.001). There was a significant variation in mean value of MCP joint ROM and MHQ scales only in favor of CIMT group after 8 weeks of therapy.
Conclusion: Eight weeks of Constraint induced movement therapy can greatly enhance the burned dominant hand range of motion and function.