Kinesthetic biofeedback: a treatment modality for elbow range of motion in hemiplegia.

Two treatment modalities for increasing active elbow extension with hemiplegic subjects were tested. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups--an experimental treatment technique using kinesthetic biofeedback, or a control group consisting of an occupational therapy approach aimed at increasing functional use of the envolved upper extremity. The results indicate that kinesthetic biofeedback was as beneficial as conventional occupational therapy. It was also demonstrated that an individual's age, sex, or length of time beyond one-year post-CVA did not significantly affect treatment outcome. A majority of subjects in both treatment groups improved in ways not directly related to treatment, which suggests the need for long-term follow up of hemiplegic patients.