Effect of forced arm use and voluntary exercise on functional motor recovery and gene expression profiles after focal ischaemia

Background and purpose: Both the immobilization of the unaffected arm combined with physical therapy (forced arm use, FAU) and voluntary exercise (VE) as model for enriched environment are promising approaches to enhance recovery after stroke. The genomic mechanisms involved in long-term plasticity changes after different means of rehabilitative training post-stroke are largely unexplored. The present investigation explored the effects of these physical therapies on behavioral recovery and molecular markers of regeneration after experimental ischaemia. Methods: 42 Wistar rats were randomly treated with either FA…