Effects of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation on upper limb functions in patients with stroke北大核心CSCD

Objective: To investigate the effects of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) on upper limb functions in subjects with stroke.; Method: Sixty subjects with stroke were randomly assigned to treatment group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Subjects in treatment group received CCFES to the affected wrist extensors, while control group received neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). The parameters of two kinds of electrical stimulation were square wave with pulse width of 200μs and frequency of 60Hz, and these electrical stimulation treatments lasted for 20min per session, 5 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The two groups all received traditional rehabilitation therapy in addition to the electrical stimulation treatment. The stimulation intensity of CCFES was based on myoelectric value got from the unaffected side while subjects voluntarily extended their wrist with minimal contraction (less than 10% maximal voluntary contraction[MVC]), moderate contraction (about 50% MVC) and complete contraction (=MVC). The myoelectric intensities of these 3 kinds contractions were recorded. Then during treatment, the unaffected wrist extended voluntarily to trigger affected wrist 3 contractions with the same amplitude by regulating the stimulation. Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) for upper limb function, upper limb motricity index (MI), FTHUE-HK score and active ROM (AROM) of wrist extension were measured before and after 3 weeks treatment.; Result: After treatment, subjects in treatment group showed significant improvements in all the measurements (P<0.05); subjects in control group showed obviously improvements in upper limb FMA, MI and FTHUE-HK scores (P<0.05). And subjects in treatment group showed significant higher FMA and FTHUE- HK scores than those in control group(P<0.05).; Conclusion: The CCFES could facilitate the improvement of upper limb function in stroke subjects, and had better effects than NMES. ©, 2014, Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. All right reserved.