title: Full-movement neuromuscular electrical stimulation improves plantar flexor spasticity and ankle active dorsiflexion in stroke patients: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether full-movement neuromuscular electrical stimulation, which can generate full range of movement, reduces spasticity and/or improves motor function more effectively than control, sensory threshold-neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and motor threshold-neuromuscular electrical stimulation in sub-acute stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, single-blind, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical therapy room and functional assessment room.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 72 adult patients with sub-acute post-stroke hemiplegia and plantar flexor spasticity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received 30-minute sessions of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the motor points of the extensor hallucis and digitorum longus twice a day, five days per week for four weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Composite Spasticity Scale, Ankle Active Dorsiflexion Score, and walking time in the Timed Up and Go Test were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at two-week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After four weeks of treatment, when comparing interclass pretreatment and posttreatment, only the full-movement neuromuscular electrical stimulation group had a significant reduction in the Composite Spasticity Scale (mean % reduction = 19.91(4.96)%, F = 3.878, p < 0.05) and improvement in the Ankle Active Dorsiflexion Score (mean scores = 3.29(0.91), F = 3.140, p < 0.05). Furthermore, these improvements were maintained two weeks after the treatment ended. However, there were no significant differences in the walking time after four weeks of treatment among the four groups (F = 1.861, p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Full-movement neuromuscular electrical stimulation with a stimulus intensity capable of generating full movement can significantly reduce plantar flexor spasticity and improve ankle active dorsiflexion, but cannot decrease walking time in the Timed Up and Go Test in sub-acute stroke patients.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors: Yong-Hui
authors: YH
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Meng
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors: Mao-Yu
authors: MY
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China huizi6606@163.com yonghuiw6606@126.com.
authors: Shou-Wei
authors: SW
authors: Yue
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Electric stimulation therapy; mobility; spasticity; stroke