title: Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the wrist and finger flexor spasticity and hand functions in cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on wrist range of motion, wrist and finger flexor spasticity, and hand functions in patients with unilateral cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (14 boys and 10 girls) between the ages of 5 and 14 years were randomized into neuromuscular electrical stimulation and control groups. Conventional exercises were applied, and static volar wrist-hand orthosis was administered to all patients 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Additionally, 30-minute neuromuscular electrical stimulation sessions were applied to the wrist extensor muscles in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group. Patients were evaluated by Zancolli Classification System, Manual Ability Classification System, and Abilhand-Kids Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with baseline, a significant increase was evident in active wrist extension angle at the fourth and sixth weeks in both groups (all P < 0.001), more prominent in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group at the fourth and sixth weeks (P = 0.015 and P = 0.006, respectively). A decrease was observed in the spasticity values in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group at the fourth and sixth weeks (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively) and in the control group only at the sixth week (P = 0.008). Abilhand-Kids values improved only in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuromuscular electrical stimulation application in addition to conventional treatments is effective in improving active wrist range of motion, spasticity, and hand functions in cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Turgut
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yıldızgören
authors.affiliation: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güldal Funda
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Nakipoğlu Yüzer
authors.affiliation: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: timurekiz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Timur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ekiz
authors.affiliation: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Neşe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Özgirgin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014953:Wrist / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: cerebral palsy; functional electrical stimulation; hand functions; spasticity