Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether full-movement neuromuscular electrical
stimulation, which can generate full range of movement, reduces spasticity and/or
improves motor function more effectively than control, sensory
threshold-neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and motor threshold-neuromuscular
electrical stimulation in sub-acute stroke patients.
DESIGN: A randomized,
single-blind, controlled study. SETTING: Physical therapy room and functional
assessment room. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 72 adult patients with sub-acute
post-stroke hemiplegia and plantar flexor spasticity. METHOD: Patients received
30-minute sessions of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the motor points of
the extensor hallucis and digitorum longus twice a day, five days per week for
four weeks. MEASURES: Composite Spasticity Scale, Ankle Active Dorsiflexion
Score, and walking time in the Timed Up and Go Test were assessed at
pretreatment, posttreatment, and at two-week follow-up.
RESULTS: After four weeks
of treatment, when comparing interclass pretreatment and posttreatment, only the
full-movement neuromuscular electrical stimulation group had a significant
reduction in the Composite Spasticity Scale (mean % reduction = 19.91(4.96)%, F =
3.878, p < 0.05) and improvement in the Ankle Active Dorsiflexion Score (mean
scores = 3.29(0.91), F = 3.140, p < 0.05). Furthermore, these improvements were
maintained two weeks after the treatment ended. However, there were no
significant differences in the walking time after four weeks of treatment among
the four groups (F = 1.861, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Full-movement neuromuscular
electrical stimulation with a stimulus intensity capable of generating full
movement can significantly reduce plantar flexor spasticity and improve ankle
active dorsiflexion, but cannot decrease walking time in the Timed Up and Go Test
in sub-acute stroke patients.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS