The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of constraint-induced (CI) movement using self-efficacy on U/E function of chronic hemiplegic patients. CI movement discourages the use of the unaffected U/E, combined with intensive training of the affected U/E.

A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. Study subjects were 40 hemiplegic patients conveniently selected from 2 different community health centers. The experimental subjects participated in the CI movement program for 6 hours daily over a period of two weeks. The exercises for affected U/E consisted of warming up, main exercise and ADL practice. To encourage the participants' behaviors self-efficacy enhancing strategies were used, which included performance accomplishment, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion and emotional arousal.

After 2 weeks of treatment, the grip power, pinch power, wrist flexion/extension, elbow flexion, and shoulder flexion/extension were significantly higher in the experimental subjects than in the control subjects. However, there was no significant difference in hand functions of the two groups.

The above results show that the constraint-induced movement using self-efficacy could be an effective nursing intervention for improving U/E function of chronic hemiplegic patients. Long term studies are needed to determine the lasting effects of constraint-induced movement.