Animal models of post-ischemic forced use rehabilitation: methods, considerations, and limitations

Table 2 Models of experimental forelimb rehabilitation

Rehab model	Advantages	Disadvantages	References
Constraint	+Most direct model of CIMT;	-Constraint devices may be stressful, confounding results;	[25, 27, 75]
	+Allows constraint for specific durations thereby allowing the evaluation of various durations of therapy;	-Lack of behavioural pressure to use paretic arm despite constraint
	+Conducive to studies of unilateral forced use
Forcing use with locomotion	+Stimulates use of the paretic limb in a less aversive paradigm	-Can be stressful (involuntary forced use);	[27, 57, 76–81]
Forcing use with locomotion		-May lack control over intensity (voluntary forced use);	[27, 57, 76–81]
Encouraging use	+Stimulates use of the paretic limb in a less aversive paradigm	-Complicated by other non-forced use therapy components such as cognitive stimulation;	[82–86]
Encouraging use		-Usually involves bilateral forced use	[82–86]
Task specific exercises	+An addition to rehabilitation that models task specific shaping exercises of CIMT	-Requires the desire of animals to participate in a demanding task	[27, 76, 77, 82–84, 86]

Summary of advantages and disadvantages of previously described animal models of rehabilitation.

ISSN: 2040-7378