title: Functional electrical stimulation with exercises for standing balance and weight transfer in acute stroke patients: a feasibility randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test parameters needed for the design of a larger trial including the following: 1) identifying eligible participants, recruitment, and retention rates; 2) the feasibility and acceptability of delivering functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the gluteus maximus and quadriceps femoris for acute stroke patients in a hospital rehabilitation setting; 3) the outcome measures; 4) obtaining initial estimates of effect size; and 5) clarifying the relevant control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one people with acute stroke-mean age = 68 (min to max: 33-87) years; weeks postonset = 4.6 (min to max: 1-14)-were randomized to three groups to receive two weeks of balance training with FES, balance training alone, or usual care. Symmetry in normal standing, weight transfer onto the affected limb, balance, mobility, and speed of walking were assessed before, shortly after the end of training, and two weeks later by a blinded assessor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1) FES was successfully delivered but not with the planned eight sessions; 2) no trends in favor of FES were found; and 3) 4% of those screened took part but approaching 20% might be recruited in the future, no single outcome measure was suitable for all participants, and more routine physiotherapy was delivered to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FES is feasible in this patient group but further feasibility and definitive trials are required.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. dh197@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kunkel
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Littlewood
authors.forename: Jane H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Burridge
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashburn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation