Upper Extremity Interventions

Upper extremity complications are common following stroke and may be seriously debilitating. Regaining function in the upper extremities is often more difficult than in lower extremities, which can seriously impact the progress of rehabilitation. A large body of research exists around upper extremity complications but debate continues regarding the timing of treatment and adequate prognostic factors. This review provides current information regarding upper extremity interventions. Topics include neurodevelopmental techniques, the application of robotic devices, virtual reality technology, EMG biofeedback, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation, pharmaceuticals, alternative and complementary medicine, task-specific training, sensorimotor interventions, splinting, and constraint-induced movement therapy.