Functional electrical stimulation therapy for severe hemiplegia: Randomized control trial revisited

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Stroke is a primary cause of long-term disability, particularly affecting upper-limb function.
• Severe hemiplegia in stroke survivors often limits recovery despite existing therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy.
• To improve voluntary reaching and grasping capabilities in individuals with severe hemiplegia post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• A post hoc analysis of a randomized control trial (NCT00221078).
• Involved 21 participants with severe upper-limb hemiplegia (Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity [FMA-UE] score ≤ 15).

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a 22.8-point increase in Functional Independence Measure Self-Care subscores, compared to 9 points in the control group.
• FMA-UE scores improved by 27.2 points in the FES group versus 5.3 points in the control group after 40 hours of therapy.

Conclusions:

• FES therapy demonstrated significant improvements in upper-limb function for stroke survivors with severe deficits.
• These findings may represent the most considerable upper-limb functional gains reported for this population.