title: The effects of electromyography-triggered electrical stimulation on shoulder subluxation, muscle activation, pain, and function in persons with stroke: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of task-oriented electromyography-triggered stimulation for shoulder subluxation, muscle activation, pain and upper extremity function in hemiparetic stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty participants with subacute hemiparetic stroke were recruited for this study and were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Subjects in the experimental group participated in task-oriented electromyography triggered stimulation for 30 minutes, five times a week for four weeks, whereas the control group received cyclic functional electrical stimulation for 30 minutes, five times a week for four weeks. Subjects in both groups received conventional physical therapy for four weeks (30 min/day, five times/week). Data collected included the degree of shoulder subluxation which had been confirmed by X-ray, muscle activation of the supraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles by electromyography, pain by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and hand function by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after the four week exercise period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed significant improvement in shoulder subluxation, muscle activation, and VAS results in the experimental group, compared with the control group(p < 0.05). FMA scores showed no significant differences between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, task-oriented electromyography-triggered stimulation improved shoulder subluxation, muscle activation, pain and upper extremity function. These results suggest that task-oriented electromyography-triggered stimulation is effective and beneficial for individuals with subacute stroke, and that further studies should be conducted on multivarious anatomical regions.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Somyung
authors: S
authors: Jeon
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young
authors: Y
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kyoungsim
authors: K
authors: Jung
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yijung
authors: Y
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Stroke; electromyography triggered stimulation; subluxation; task oriented exercise