The effects of electromyography-controlled functional electrical stimulation on upper extremity function and cortical perfusion in stroke patients.
Clin Neurophysiol 2013;
124:2008-15. [PMID:
23706813 DOI:
10.1016/j.clinph.2013.03.030]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Revised: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The relation was investigated between hemiparetic arm function improvement and brain cortical perfusion (BCP) change during voluntary muscle contraction (VOL), EMG-controlled FES (EMG-FES) and simple electrical muscle stimulation (ES) before and after EMG-FES therapy in chronic stroke patients.
METHODS
Sixteen chronic stroke patients with moderate residual hemiparesis underwent 5 months of task-orientated EMG-FES therapy of the paretic arm once or twice a week. Before and after treatment, arm function was clinically evaluated and BCP during VOL, ES and EMG-FES were assessed using multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy.
RESULTS
BCP in the ipsilesional sensory-motor cortex (SMC) was greater during EMG-FES than during VOL or ES; therefore, EMG-FES caused a shift in the dominant BCP from the contralesional to ipsilesional SMC. After EMG-FES therapy, arm function improved in most patients, with some individual variability, and there was significant improvement in Fugl-Meyer (FM) score and maximal grip strength (GS). Clinical improvement was accompanied by an increase in ipsilesional SMC activation during VOL and EMG-FES condition.
CONCLUSION
The EMG-FES may have more influence on ipsilesional BCP than VOL or ES alone.
SIGNIFICANCE
The sensory motor integration during EMG-FES therapy might facilitate BCP of the ipsilesional SMC and result in functional improvement of hemiparetic upper extremity.
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