Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 21, 2026
Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Published on: September 13, 2015
Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation With or Without Strengthening Exercise on
Ya-Chao Qi1, Xiao-Li Niu1, Ya-Ran Gao1
11 Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China.
Insights
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with strengthening exercise significantly improved movement and reduced spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). This combined approach was more effective than NMES alone for CP recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is a common childhood motor disorder.
- Movement impairments and spasticity significantly impact the quality of life for children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with strengthening exercise in improving movement and reducing spasticity in children with spastic CP.
- To compare the effects of combined NMES and exercise versus NMES alone.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 100 children with spastic CP.
- Participants were divided into a treatment group (NMES + strengthening exercise) and a control group (NMES only).
- Outcomes including spasticity (Comprehensive Spasticity Scale), gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Measure), and walking speed were assessed before, at 6 weeks, and 3 months post-treatment.
Main Results:
- The treatment group showed significantly greater reductions in spasticity scores compared to the control group at 6 weeks and 3 months (P < .05).
- Gross Motor Function Measure scores significantly increased in the treatment group compared to the control group at both follow-up points (P < .05).
- Walking speed significantly improved in the treatment group compared to the control group at 6 weeks and 3 months (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with strengthening exercise is more effective than NMES alone for improving motor function and reducing spasticity in children with spastic CP.
- This combined therapeutic approach offers a promising intervention for managing spastic CP.
- Further research can explore long-term effects and optimal treatment protocols.
Abstract:
The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with strengthening exercise on movement in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). One hundred children with spastic CP were randomly divided into a treatment group (NMES and strengthening exercise, n = 50) and a control group (only NMES, n = 50). We compared the Comprehensive Spasticity Scale (CSS) score, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) score, and walking speed before treatment and 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment between the 2 groups. There was no difference in CSS score between the treatment and control groups before the therapy (12.0 ± 3.4 vs 12.3 ± 3.6), which decreased much more in the treatment group after 6 weeks (7.6 ± 3.0 vs 9.5 ± 2.8) and 3 months (7.4 ± 2.4 vs 9.4 ± 2.6) with significant differences ( P < .05). No difference in GMFM score was observed between the treatment and control groups before the therapy (44.5 ± 13.2 vs 44.0 ± 12.6), which increased much more in the treatment group after 6 weeks (70.6 ± 15.2 vs 56.7 ± 14.3) and 3 months (71.0 ± 16.4 vs 58.0 ± 15.6) with significant differences ( P < .05). The walking speed improved over time, which was the same before the treatment (0.43 ± 0.13 m/s vs 0.45 ± 0.14 m/s), and was significantly greater in the treatment group than that in the control group (6 weeks: 0.69 ± 0.15 m/s vs 0.56 ± 0.12 m/s, P < .05; 3 months: 0.72 ± 0.17 m/s vs 0.57 ± 0.18 m/s, P < .05). NMES combined with strengthening exercise was more effective than NMES alone in the recovery of spastic CP.
