PURPOSE: This study aimed to qualify the improvements of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (m-CIMT) on the lower limb of stroke patients via assessing the centre of mass (COM) displacement and the basic gait parameters. METHODS: A total of 22 hemiplegic patients after stroke with first-time clinical cerebral infarction or haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident were included in this study from May to December, 2014. The patients were randomly divided into m-CIMT group and the conventional therapy group (control group), and received corresponding training for five days/week for four weeks. The COM displacement and gait parameters were assessed by three-dimensional segmental kinematics method in pre-intervention and post- intervention therapy. RESULTS: After four weeks of m-CIMT, the COM displacement on sagittal plane of paretic leg during stance phase was increased (pre 91.04 +/- 4.39cm, post 92.38 +/- 4.58cm, p < 0.05) and swing range of frontal plane was remarkably decreased (pre 10.15 +/- 3.05cm, post 7.83 +/- 1.90cm, p < 0.001). Meantime, the normalised swing range of COM in m-CIMT was superior to that in control group. Moreover, the gait parameters, including velocity (0.27m/s), step width (0.10m), step length (0.22m) and swing time percentage (29.80%), were significantly improved by post-interventions of m-CIMT (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The m-CIMT intervention improves the COM displacement in sagittal and frontal plane, as well as gait parameters. These suggest that m-CIMT intervention may be feasible and effective for the rehabilitation of hemiplegic gait.

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