Can the site of brain lesion predict improved motor function after low-TENS treatment on the post-stroke paretic arm?
OBJECTIVE
Previous reports suggest that afferent stimulation improves arm motor function in patients suffering from stroke. The aim of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis that the brain lesion location determines the response to low-frequency (1.7 Hz) transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (Low-TENS) therapy.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 14 patients who had previously received Low-TENS on the paretic arm after stroke.


METHODS
MR images were classified with two different methods. First, lesions in the cortical and the subcortical areas were registered. Secondly, any change in a described periventricular white matter (PVWM) area was recorded. Interactions between the lesion site, as detected by MRI, and response to Low-TENS treatment were analysed.


RESULTS
Arm motor function after Low-TENS treatment in relation to lesion in different brain areas showed that absence of lesions in the PVWM area increased the possibility for improved motor capacity after afferent stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
The site of lesion may play a role in prognosis/outcome after Low-TENS treatment but this hypothesis should be further tested in a larger prospective study.
Sonde
L
L
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden. lars.sonde@ger.hs.sll.se
Bronge
L
L
Kalimo
H
H
Viitanen
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D009068:Movement; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome