Functional electrical stimulation to the affected lower limb and recovery after cerebral infarction.
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) may improve recovery after stroke. We studied its effects in 38 postcerebral infarct patients. Twenty were randomly assigned to receive FES producing ankle dorsiflexion on the affected side and physical therapy. The remaining 18 received physical therapy only. Subjects were evaluated prior to commencing therapy, at its completion after 4 weeks, and again 4 weeks later using functional and electrophysiological measures. Functional deficit in most patients improved (p < 0.01). Although no significant differences were observed when those treated with FES and those not treated were compared at 4 and 8 weeks, there was significant improvement in the rate of recovery using an ambulation score (p < 0.05), and there was a similar trend in the Barthel Index for FES-treated patients (p < 0.1). Our results indicate that FES may confer additional benefit in acute stroke rehabilitation. Further studies are needed to delineate how best to use it.
From the Department of Neurology, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg 3084, Australia.
R A
RA
Macdonell
Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A.
W J
WJ
Triggs
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
J
J
Leikauskas
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
M
M
Bourque
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
K
K
Robb
Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Prahran 3181, Australia.
B J
BJ
Day
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
B T
BT
Shahani