Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether functional electrical stimulation-supported
ergometric training of patients with multiple sclerosis has a prosthetic or
therapeutic effect on biomechanical (power, smoothness of cycling) and functional
outcomes (walking capability, strength of muscle, spasticity). DESIGN: Twelve
subjects with multiple sclerosis participated in an electrical
stimulation-supported ergometric training (3 sessions/week for 2 weeks).
Measurements were made in a cross-over design to study prosthetic (with and
without stimulation) and therapeutic effects (before and after training).
METHODS: Power and smoothness were calculated by cadence and torque recordings of
cycling and spasticity; strength and walking capability were measured by the
Modified Ashworth Scale, Manual Muscle Test, and 10-Metre Walk Test. RESULTS: The
power and smoothness of pedalling significantly improved prosthetically with
electrical stimulation (p=0.02), but did not show significant improvement over
the 2 weeks of training. Significant short-term reductions in spasticity (before
vs after training session; p<0.05) were found. Isometric strength did not
increase significantly during the 2-week training period and there was no
improvement in walking ability. CONCLUSION: Patients with multiple sclerosis are
able to improve their cycling power and smoothness by pedalling with stimulation.
We suggest that severely affected patients benefit more from functional electric
stimulation-cycling therapy than do slightly affected patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS