The effect of electrical stimulation in combination with Bobath techniques in the prevention of shoulder subluxation in acute stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficiency of electrical stimulation in combination with Bobath techniques in the prevention of inferior and anterior shoulder subluxation in acute stroke patients.


METHODS
A prospective randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Intensive care unit and inpatient clinics of neurology in a university hospital.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with acute stroke, divided equally into control and study groups.


METHODS
Subjects in both groups were treated in accordance with the Bobath concept during the early hospitalization period. In addition to Bobath techniques, electrical stimulation was also applied to the supraspinatus muscle, mid and posterior portions of the deltoid muscle of patients in the study group.


METHODS
Two radiological methods were used to measure the horizontal, vertical and total asymmetry and vertical distance values of the shoulder joint. Motor functions of the arm were evaluated with the Motor Assessment Scale.


RESULTS
The hospitalization period was 12.62 ± 2.24 days for the control group and 11.66 ± 1.88 days for the study group. Shoulder subluxation occurred in 9 (37.5%) subjects in the control group, whereas it was not observed in the study group. All shoulder joint displacement values were higher in the control group than in the study group (horizontal asymmetry P = 0.0001, vertical asymmetry P = 0.0001, total asymmetry P = 0.0001, vertical range P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Application of electrical stimulation combined with the Bobath approach proved to be efficient in preventing inferior and anterior shoulder subluxation in the acute stages of stroke.
Fil
Ayla
A
Neurologic Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. aylafil@gmail.com
Armutlu
Kadriye
K
Atay
Ahmet Ozgur
AO
Kerimoglu
Ulku
U
Elibol
Bulent
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*