title: Effectiveness of finger-equipped electrode (FEE)-triggered electrical stimulation improving chronic stroke patients with severe hemiplegia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electric stimulation (ES) has been recognized as an effective method to improve motor function to paralysed patients with stroke. It is important for ES to synchronize with voluntary movement. To enhance this co-ordination, the finger-equipped electrode (FEE) was developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate FEE in improving motor function of upper extremities (UEs) in patients with chronic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants included four patients with chronic stroke who received FEE electronic stimulation (FEE-ES) plus passive and active training and three control patients who underwent training without FEE-ES. The patients were treated five times weekly for 4 weeks. UE motor function was evaluated before and after treatment using Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Brunnstrom recovery staging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients in each group was 60-years and there was a mean of 49 months since the onset of symptoms. All patients had severe UE weakness. The patients receiving FEE-ES had greater improvement in UE function than control patients (total, proximal and distal FMA, p < 0.05; Brunnstrom staging of UE, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that FEE-ES may be an effective treatment for patients with chronic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Centre, Inobe Hospital, Nakao, Oita, Japan. j.juninobe@inobe.or.jp
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inobe
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*