Article

AIM: To determine if neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) applied to the
ankle dorsiflexors during gait improves muscle volume and strength in children
with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD:
Thirty-two children (15
females, 17 males; mean age 10y 8mo, age range 5y 5mo-18y 1mo) with unilateral
spastic CP and a Gross Motor Function Classification System of level I or level
II were randomly assigned to either the 8-week daily NMES treatment group or
control group (usual or conventional treatments). Outcomes at week 8 (post-NMES)
and week 14 (carryover) included magnetic resonance imaging for muscle volumes
(tibialis anterior, anterior compartment, and gastrocnemius), strength (hand-held
dynamometry for isometric dorsiflexion strength and heel raises for functional
strength), and clinical measures for lower limb selective motor control. RESULTS:
At week 8, the treatment group demonstrated significantly (p<0.05) increased
muscle volumes for tibialis anterior, anterior compartment, medial and lateral
gastrocnemius, and dorsiflexion strength not only when compared to their baseline
values but also when compared to the control group at week 8. At week 14, both
tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius volumes in the treatment group
remained significantly increased when compared to their baseline values. However,
only lateral gastrocnemius volumes had significantly greater values when compared
to the control group at week 14. There were no between group differences in the
clinical measures for lower limb selective motor control at week 8 and 14.
INTERPRETATION: Eight weeks of daily NMES-assisted gait increases muscle volume
and strength of the stimulated ankle dorsiflexors in children with unilateral
spastic CP. These changes are use-dependent and do not carry over after the
8-week treatment period. Gastrocnemius volume also increased post-treatment with
carryover at week 14.
CI - (c) 2015 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS