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Electrical stimulation of the lumbrical muscles in an incomplete quadriplegic patient: case report
S G Carroll1, S F Bird, D J Brown
1Department of Physiotherapy, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Paraplegia
|March 1, 1992
Abstract:
The increasing number of incomplete cervical spinal cord injuries means that more attention needs to be focused on the rehabilitation of the incomplete quadriplegic hand. A case study, describing the application of electrical stimulation for strengthening the paretic lumbrical muscles, is presented. A 2 week strengthening program resulted in a 33% increase in the force produced by the lumbrical muscles. No loss of strength had occurred 4 weeks after cessation of the treatment. The magnitude and speed of this result should be of interest to those clinicians who seek to maximise patient independence in minimal time.