title: Effects of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation plus task-oriented training on upper extremity function in patients with subacute stroke: a pilot randomized crossover trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation combined with task-oriented training in patients with stroke during inpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot randomized crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two rehabilitation hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with subacute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to two groups and underwent two weeks of training in addition to conventional inpatient rehabilitation. The immediate group underwent peripheral sensory nerve stimulation combined with task-oriented training in the first week, followed by another week with task-oriented training alone. The delayed group underwent the same training in reverse order.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcome measures were the level of fatigue and Wolf Motor Function Test. Patients were assessed at baseline, one and two weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants completed the study with no adverse events. There was no significant difference in level of fatigue between each treatment. From baseline to one week, the immediate group showed larger improvements than the delayed groups in the Wolf Motor Function Test (decrease in mean time (± SD) from 41.9 ± 16.2 seconds to 30.6 ± 11.4 seconds versus from 46.8 ± 19.4 seconds to 42.9 ± 14.7 seconds, respectively) but the difference did not reach significance after Bonferroni correction (P = 0.041). Within-group comparison showed significant improvements in the Wolf Motor Function Test mean time after the peripheral sensory nerve stimulation combined with task-oriented training periods in each group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral sensory nerve stimulation is feasible in clinical settings and may enhance the effects of task-oriented training in patients with subacute stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nishiyamato Rehabilitation Hospital, Nara, Japan. pt.k.lkuno@gmail.com
authors.forename: Koki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikuno
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitabeppu
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitaura
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tokuhisa
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shomoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*