Rehabilitation effect of the third generation functional electrical stimulation combined with task oriented training for upper limb function after stroke

Objective To investigate the rehabilitation effect of the third generation functional electrical stimulation( FES) for upper limb function after stroke. Methods Forty patients with first attack of stroke( the course of disease was 3 to 12 months) were enrolled. They were divided into either a FES group or a control group by case numbers( n = 20 in each group). Both groups received traditional rehabilitation training once a day( 30 min) for 12 weeks. The FES group also received FES for 12 weeks, once a day for 15 min. According to the functional status of the upper limbs,the patients were treated with occupational therapies,including passive electrical stimulation,trigger feedback electrical stimulation,and booster feedback electrical stimulation with task-oriented feedback training( cup training). The modified Ashworth Scale( MAS),Brunnstrom Scale( BS),Fugl-Meyer Scale( FMS)( upper part),and active range of motion of wrist extension( WEAROM) were used to perform efficacy evaluation. Results( 1) There were no significant differences in all the outcome measures before treatment between the FES group and the control group.( 2) The MAS and Brunnstrom scale scores of both groups were improved after treatment compared to before treatment. There was significant difference( P 0. 01); but there was no significant difference in the MAS and Brunnstrom scale scores between the FNS group and the control group.( 3) The FMS scores and WEAROM in both groups were higher than before treatment. There was significant difference( P 0. 01); the difference of the FMS scale before and after treatment in the FES group was 8. 3 ± 4. 0 and it was higher than 4. 3 ± 2. 5 in the control group; the difference in WE-AROM before and after treatment in the FES group was 21 ± 10 and it was higher than 14 ± 6 in the control group. There was significant difference( P 0. 01). Conclusion Compared with the traditional rehabilitation training,the rehabilitation training in combination with FES is more obvious for the improvement of arm and hand motor function,as well as the improvement of joint motion range of the wrist dorsiflexion in patients with stroke,but the improvement of upper limb spasticity is not obvious.