title: Functional electrical stimulation early after stroke improves lower limb motor function and ability in activities of daily living.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional electrical stimulation (FES) to patients early after stroke has been proved to improve walking ability. The effects on abilities in activities of daily living (ADL) are not clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of FES in improving lower limb function and ability in ADL of early stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven stroke patients were randomly allocated to standard rehabilitation (SR) group (n = 18), and FES group with FES and SR (n = 19). SR included 60 minutes each for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. FES was delivered for 30 min to induce ankle dorsiflexion and eversion. Treatments were 5 days per week for 3 weeks. Evaluations including the composite spasticity scale (CSS), lower-extremity subscale of Fugl-Myer Assessment (FMA), postural assessment scale for stroke patients (PASS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and modified Barthel Index (MBI) assessed before treatment, after 2 and 3 week treatment respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 2 week treatment, FES group showed a significant reduction of CSS and improvements of FMA, MBI and PASS. After 3 week treatment, FES group showed a further reduction of CSS and also improvement of FMA, MBI and BBS as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FES on the paretic lower limbs early after stroke improved the mobility and ability in ADL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, China.
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, China.
authors.forename: Huiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Tiebin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: Functional electrical stimulation; activities of daily living; lower limb; motor; stroke