The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of task-oriented
electromyography-triggered stimulation for shoulder subluxation, muscle
activation, pain and upper extremity function in hemiparetic stroke patients.
METHODS: Twenty participants with subacute hemiparetic stroke were recruited for
this study and were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n = 10)
and control group (n = 10). Subjects in the experimental group participated in
task-oriented electromyography triggered stimulation for 30 minutes, five times a
week for four weeks, whereas the control group received cyclic functional
electrical stimulation for 30 minutes, five times a week for four weeks. Subjects
in both groups received conventional physical therapy for four weeks (30 min/day,
five times/week). Data collected included the degree of shoulder subluxation
which had been confirmed by X-ray, muscle activation of the supraspinatus and
posterior deltoid muscles by electromyography, pain by the Visual Analogue Scale
(VAS), and hand function by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after the
four week exercise period. RESULTS: The results showed significant improvement in
shoulder subluxation, muscle activation, and VAS results in the experimental
group, compared with the control group(p < 0.05). FMA scores showed no
significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion,
task-oriented electromyography-triggered stimulation improved shoulder
subluxation, muscle activation, pain and upper extremity function. These results
suggest that task-oriented electromyography-triggered stimulation is effective
and beneficial for individuals with subacute stroke, and that further studies
should be conducted on multivarious anatomical regions.