J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2009 Feb;33(1):29-35.

The Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation on the Motor Function of Lower Limb in Hemiplegic Patients

• Yang CY
• Kim TJ
• Lee JH
• Joo MC
• Oh KJ
• Park SA
• Shin YI

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the motor function of lower limb in hemiplegic patients with stroke or brain injury. METHOD: Fifty subjects (age, 56.66+/-9.85 years old; prevalence duration, 113.49+/-79.94 days after stroke or brain injury) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 groups; the experimental group (n=25) received conventional rehabilitation with FES and the control group (n=25) received conventional rehabilitation without FES. FES was applied 20 minutes concomitant with rehabilitation, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements included muscle strength, modified Ashworth scale, Brunnstrom stage, motricity index, 10 meter walking test (10 MWT), and circumference ratios of lower extremity (including thigh and calf). Subjects were evaluated before treatment and at 4 weeks after treatment.
RESULTS
No significant differences were found in the baseline measurements. After 4 weeks of treatment, there was significant improvement in thigh circumference ratio and 10 MWT in the FES group, when compared with the control group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Twenty sessions of FES, applied to postacute stroke or brain injured patients plus conventional rehabilitation, improved their motor and walking ability.

Keyword

Functional electrical stimulation; Stroke; Brain injury; Walking

MeSH Terms

Brain
Brain Injuries
Electric Stimulation
Humans
Lower Extremity
Muscle Strength
Prevalence
Stroke
Thigh
Walking