Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation

Modified Constraint Induced Therapy

 

What is Modified Constraint Induced Therapy (mCIT)?

After a stroke, Rome Memorial Hospital’s unique outpatient stroke rehabilitation program can help you regain greater use of your weakened limbs, even years after a stroke. 

 

The short-termintensive program, known as modified constraint induced therapy (mCIT), involves restraining your strong limb with an oven mitt or sling, forcing you to use your weakened arm repetitively and intensely. Through concentrated daily repetition of task-oriented activities, stroke survivors can relearn how to use and strengthen the weakened side.

 

  It’s similar to what happens if you break your arm.  While your arm is in a cast, you learn to do everything with your other hand much better than you ever could before. 

 

Studies have shown that mCIT causes the brain’s neurons to “rewire” themselves.  The repetition stimulates the brain to repair and retrain itself. 

 

Language therapy based on mCIT research can also help stroke survivors regain communication and cognitive abilities.  Repetitive verbal communication—beginning with words and short phrases and advancing to sentences—can also help stimulate the brain to compensate for the stroke damage.

 

Program Features

¨ Evaluation:  You will be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team of therapists to identify which programs may help you achieve your goals.

¨ Assessment:  We will assess you before, during and after the program to help determine your activity level and measure your progress.

¨ Therapy:  We will develop an individualized program for you that includes 3 to 5 supervised therapy sessions a week, depending on need.  In addition, we will provide you with task oriented activities for you to continue at home for a total of 5 hours a day, 5 days a week.

¨ Support:  Your therapists will monitor your progress, provide feedback and encouragement.

 

Admission Criteria

Patients must be capable of engaging in activities five hours a day to participate in the program.   In addition, you must:

¨ Have some movement in your affected limb.

¨ Be able to understand and follow directions.

¨ Be able to tolerate repetition without significant pain in your affected limb.

¨ Must be motivated to participate.

 

Family support is encouraged.

 

Program Benefits

You will be surprised at the gains you can make even years after a stroke! Modified Constraint Induced Therapy can help you:

 

¨ Be more independent with daily activities and household tasks.

¨ Improve your strength and endurance for activities. 

¨ Set and achieve realistic goals.

¨ Measure your progress.

¨ Keep these new abilities for years to come.

¨ Understand that practice and repetition is the key to improving your abilities.

 

Your Rehab Team

You are the most important member of the mCIT Team! Other members include:

 

¨ Occupational Therapists

¨ Physical Therapists

¨ Speech Language Pathologists

¨ Recreational Therapists

¨ Psychologists

¨ Physicians

¨ Program Director

¨ Dieticians

¨ Social Workers

 

We also include your family or other individuals you choose in your care.

 

Comprehensive Rehab

Rome Memorial Hospital provides a full continuum of rehabilitation services to help you recover from a debilitating illness or disease that threatens your independence:

¨ Acute Physical Rehabilitation

¨ Total Joint Replacement Rehabilitation

¨ Sub-Acute Rehabilitation

¨ Outpatient Occupational Therapy

¨ Outpatient Physical Therapy

¨ Outpatient Speech Therapy

¨ Modified Constraint Induced Therapy

¨ Outpatient Pulmonary Rehab

 

Rehabilitation services are reimbursable through Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance carriers with a referral from your primary care physician, neurologist or physiatrist with pre-approval.

 

For more information,

please call us at (315) 338-7154

 

Rehabilitation Services

Rome Memorial Hospital

1500 N. James St.

Rome, NY 13440

www.romehospital.org

 

 

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