Wearable Devices for Bioelectrical Stimulation in Rehabilitation: Review of the Current State

Advancements in electrical stimulation technology, fabrication, and device design have led to the development of wearable bioelectrical stimulation devices, enabling rehabilitation in nontraditional settings. This scoping review evaluates the effectiveness of wearable bioelectrical stimulation devices for rehabilitation, providing an overview of the current state of clinical outcomes and prototype devices. A systematic search of MEDLINE was conducted on November 11, 2024, with additional relevant articles manually included. Studies were screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 488 identified articles, 59 met the inclusion criteria. The categories represented were stroke (N = 10), cerebral palsy (N = 6), spinal cord injury (N = 5), musculoskeletal (N = 4), fibromyalgia (N = 3), and peripheral neuropathy (N = 3), in addition to other diagnoses (N = 8), healthy participants (N = 14), and nonclinically tested devices (N = 6). Reported potential benefits of the devices included improvements in gait abnormalities, knee pain, low back pain, fibromyalgia, and bladder dysfunction, while outcomes in spasticity, neurological recovery, and circulatory augmentation remain inconclusive. Wearable bioelectrical stimulation devices have gained significant interest in the field of rehabilitation, with devices spanning many form factors to target a wide array of conditions. However, until further research provides clearer evidence, wearable bioelectrical stimulation devices should be considered an adjunct to established rehabilitation interventions.