Cortical effect and functional recovery by the electromyography-triggered neuromuscular stimulation in chronic stroke patients.
We investigated the effect of electromyography (EMG)-triggered neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES; EMG-stim) on functional recovery of the hemiparetic hand and the related cortical activation pattern in chronic stroke patients. We enrolled 14 stroke patients, who were randomly assigned to the EMG-stim (n=7) or the control groups (n=7). The EMG-stim was applied to the wrist extensor of the EMG-stim group for two sessions (30 min/session) a day, five times per week for 10 weeks. Four functional tests (box and block, strength, the accuracy index, and the on/offset time of muscle contraction) and functional MRI (fMRI) were performed before and after treatment. fMRI was measured at 1.5 T in parallel with timed finger flexion-extension movements at a fixed rate. Following treatment, the EMG-stim group showed a significant improvement in all functional tests. The main cortical activation change with such functional improvement was shifted from the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC) to the contralateral SMC. We demonstrated that 10-week EMG-stim can induce functional recovery and change of cortical activation pattern in the hemiparetic hand of chronic stroke patients.
Shin
Hwa Kyung
HK
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Catholic University of Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Cho
Sang Hyun
SH
Jeon
Hye-seon
HS
Lee
Young-Hee
YH
Song
Jun Chan
JC
Jang
Sung Ho
SH
Lee
Chu-Hee
CH
Kwon
Yong Hyun
YH
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation