title: Efficacy of electrical stimulation as an adjunct to repetitive task practice therapy on skilled hand performance in hemiparetic stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of additional electrical stimulation to hand muscles combined with repetitive task practice therapy on skilled hand performance in stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurological physical therapy outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty stroke patients of both sexes (45-65 years - 16 females and 24 males).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups: experimental and control groups. All patients received repetitive task practice. Those in the experimental group received additional electrical stimulation for specific hand muscles and patients in the control group received sham electrical stimulation. Treatment was provided three times/week for two months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received baseline and post-treatment assessments using three-dimensional motion analysis (to evaluate range of motion of fingers abduction and extension), motor assessment scale (to assess hand motor function) and time to complete Jebsen Taylor Test (to assess hand skills).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the experimental group showed a significant improvement as compared with those in the control group. Motor assessment scale score was 4.25±0.63 for the experimental group and 3.35±0.74 for the control group (t=-3.50 and p= 0.0001). Time to complete Jebsen Taylor Test was 180.90±7.04 for the experimental group and 192.80±6.87 for the control group (t=4.50 and p= 0.0001). There was a significant improvement in fingers abduction and extension in both groups (in favor to the experimental group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repetitive task practice therapy combined with electrical stimulation can improve skilled hand performance in terms of hand motor function, skills and range of motion in stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt neveinmohammed@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nevein M M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gharib
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aboumousa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abeer A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elowishy
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Soheir S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rezk-Allah
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fatma S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Yousef
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Stroke; electrical stimulation; hand skills; repetitive task practice therapy; three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis