SDB accompanied by arterial oxyhemoglobin desaturation is common in patients undergoing rehabilitation after stroke and is associated with higher mortality at 1 year and lower BI scores at discharge and at 3 and 12 months after stroke. SDB may be an independent predictor of worse functional outcome. Obstructive sleep apnea appeared to be the most common form of SDB, and the frequent history of snoring suggests that SDB preceded the stroke in most patients.

Background-Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) has received considerable attention as an intervention to enhance motor recovery and cortical reorganization after stroke.