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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Paradigms of Lower Extremity Electrical Stimulation Training After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: February 1, 2018
Electrical Stimulation in Lower Limb During Exercise to Improve Gait Speed and Functional Motor Ability 6 Months
Henriette Busk1, Martin Bjørn Stausholm2, Louise Lykke3
1Department of Neurology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy and Occupathinal Therapy, Naestved, Slagelse and Ringsted Hospitals, Slagelse, Denmark; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Introduction:
Stroke is the third most common cause of disability in adults over 65 years of age and there are 30.7 million survivors after stroke worldwide. Stroke survivors have the highest odds of reporting severe disability and the greatest variety of individual domains of disability compared to a range of other conditions. Electrical stimulation of peripheral sensory-motor systems increases voluntary movement and muscle strength and thereby raises the activities of daily living (ADL). Little is known about electrical stimulation during physical activity in rehabilitation; the objective of this review is therefore to investigate whether external electrical stimulation combined with activity improves functional motor ability and gait speed in patients who have experienced a stroke within the last 6 months.
Methods:
A review and random effects meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials on gait speed and functional motor ability measured with Barthel Index (BI) and Bergs Balance Scale (BBS).
Results:
Eight trials were included (n = 191). Explorative meta-analysis was performed on gait speed (5 trials, n = 120), BI (3 trials, n = 74), and BBS (3 trial n = 79). A small, significant difference on gait speed 0.15 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08-0.21) m/s, but no difference in BI 2.88 (95 % CI: -3.3 to 9.07) and BBS 1.73 (95% CI: -2.8 to 6.27).
Conclusions:
Sparse, low-quality evidence indicates that electrical stimulation combined with activity is a relevant intervention to improve ADL within 6 months poststroke.
