Electrical stimulation for limb spasticity in children with stroke: A protocol for systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Limb spasticity (LS) is a common challenge in children post-stroke.
• Electrical stimulation (ES) is a potential therapeutic intervention for LS.
• Evidence on ES effectiveness and safety in pediatric stroke survivors requires systematic appraisal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and appraise the effectiveness and safety of ES for treating LS in children with stroke.
• To synthesize current evidence on ES interventions for pediatric stroke-related limb spasticity.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple databases (Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, etc.).
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ES with other interventions.
• Data extraction and quality appraisal by two independent reviewers; analysis using RevMan 5.3 software.

Main Results:

• This review will summarize recent evidence on ES for LS in pediatric stroke.
• It will focus on primary outcomes of gait velocity and limb spasticity status.
• Secondary outcomes include limb function, quality of life, pain, and adverse events.

Conclusions:

• The findings will inform clinical practice regarding the use of ES for LS in children with stroke.
• This review aims to clarify whether ES is an effective treatment for pediatric stroke-related limb spasticity.