Better Stroke Therapy

In a study of 41 people who had mild to moderate impairment in one arm an average of 4.5 years after suffering a stroke, about half were enrolled in a general fitness program, and the rest underwent physical therapy while wearing a padded mitt on the stronger arm, preventing its use. After two weeks, people who were not allowed to use the stronger arm showed substantial improvement in the use of their impaired arm, while the placebo group showed no significant changes.

Theory: This type of therapy reorganizes brain function and recruits new brain are s to allow for use of the weak arm.