title: A home program of sensory and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with upper-limb task practice in a patient 5 years after a stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This case report describes a person with upper-extremity (UE) hemiparesis who participated in a home program that included sensory amplitude electrical stimulation (SES) to his involved arm and performance of task-specific exercises with the assistance of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was a 67-year-old man with stable sensory and motor deficits 5 years after a stroke. Sensory amplitude electrical stimulation was delivered for 2 hours per day. A daily, 15-minute course of NMES was used to help him perform UE tasks. This home program was carried out for 18 weeks and included 6 physical therapist home visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient's UE score on the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM) improved from 10/20 to 17/20. The score on the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) improved from 27/57 to 42/57. The patient reported that he was now able to button buttons, use a knife and fork, and tie simple fishing knots.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A home program combining SES and NMES may be an effective method to increase UE function even 5 years after a stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 645 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. j-sullivan@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Lois D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hedman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002641:Chicago; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis