Effect of Repetitive Focal Muscle Stimulation on Upper Limb Function Recovery after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

@#Objective To observe the effect of repetitive focal muscle stimulation on recovery of upper limb function after stroke.Methods From October, 2016 to February, 2018, 46 stroke patients at early stage were recruited and divided into control group (n=23) and observation group (n=23). Both groups received basic rehabilitation training. The observation group accepted additional repetitive focal muscle stimulation on palms, forearm extensor carpi radialis, biceps brachii and muscles around scapula. The control group received sound stimulation as placebo treatment. The treatment was implemented once a day, five days a week for four weeks totally. The scores of Fugl-Meyer Assessment -Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), the Motricity Index of Upper Extremities (MI-UE) and the Hong Kong version of Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (FTHUE-HK) were compared before and four weeks after treatment. Results After treatment, the scores of FMA-UE, MI-UE and FTHUE-HK improved in both groups (F>2.577, P<0.05), and were higher in the observation group than in the control group (t>2.153, P<0.05).Conclusion Repetitive focal muscle stimulation could facilitate to recover the function of upper limb in early-stage stroke patients.