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Electromyogram-triggered neuromuscular stimulation for improving the arm function of acute stroke survivors: a
G Francisco1, J Chae, H Chawla
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA.
Objective:
To assess the efficacy of electromyogram (EMG)-triggered neuromuscular stimulation (EMG-stim) in enhancing upper extremity motor and functional recovery of acute stroke survivors.
Design:
A pilot randomized, single-blinded clinical trial.
Setting:
Freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facility.
Patients:
Nine subjects who were within 6 weeks of their first unifocal, nonhemorrhagic stroke were randomly assigned to either the EMG-stim (n = 4) or control (n = 5) group. All subjects had a detectable EMG signal (>5 microV) from the surface of the paretic extensor carpi radialis and voluntary wrist extension in synergy or in isolation with muscle grade of <3/5.
Intervention:
All subjects received two 30-minute sessions per day of wrist strengthening exercises with EMG-stim (experimental) or without (control) for the duration of their rehabilitation stay.
Main Outcome Measures:
Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer motor assessment and the feeding, grooming, and upper body dressing items of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were assessed at study entry and at discharge.
Results:
Subjects treated with EMG-stim exhibited significantly greater gains in Fugl-Meyer (27.0 vs 10.4; p = .05), and FIM (6.0 vs 3.4; p = .02) scores compared with controls.
Conclusion:
Data suggest that EMG-stim enhances the arm function of acute stroke survivors.