OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of electromyogram (EMG)-triggered neuromuscular stimulation (EMG-stim) in enhancing upper extremity motor and functional recovery of acute stroke survivors. DESIGN: A pilot randomized, single-blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facility. PATIENTS: Nine subjects who were within 6 weeks of their first unifocal, nonhemorrhagic stroke were randomly assigned to either the EMG-stim (n = 4) or control (n = 5) group. All subjects had a detectable EMG signal (>5 microV) from the surface of the paretic extensor carpi radialis and voluntary wrist extension in synergy or in isolation with muscle grade of <3/5. INTERVENTION: All subjects received two 30-minute sessions per day of wrist strengthening exercises with EMG-stim (experimental) or without (control) for the duration of their rehabilitation stay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Upper extremityFugl-Meyer motor assessment and the feeding, grooming, and upper body dressing items of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were assessed at study entry and at discharge. RESULTS: Subjects treated with EMG-stim exhibited significantly greater gains in Fugl-Meyer (27.0 vs 10.4; p = .05), and FIM (6.0 vs 3.4; p = .02) scores compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that EMG-stim enhances the arm function of acute stroke survivors.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of electromyogram (EMG)-triggered neuromuscular stimulation (EMG-stim) in enhancing upper extremity motor and functional recovery of acute stroke survivors. DESIGN: A pilot randomized, single-blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facility. PATIENTS: Nine subjects who were within 6 weeks of their first unifocal, nonhemorrhagic stroke were randomly assigned to either the EMG-stim (n = 4) or control (n = 5) group. All subjects had a detectable EMG signal (>5 microV) from the surface of the paretic extensor carpi radialis and voluntary wrist extension in synergy or in isolation with muscle grade of <3/5. INTERVENTION: All subjects received two 30-minute sessions per day of wrist strengthening exercises with EMG-stim (experimental) or without (control) for the duration of their rehabilitation stay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer motor assessment and the feeding, grooming, and upper body dressing items of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were assessed at study entry and at discharge. RESULTS: Subjects treated with EMG-stim exhibited significantly greater gains in Fugl-Meyer (27.0 vs 10.4; p = .05), and FIM (6.0 vs 3.4; p = .02) scores compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that EMG-stim enhances the arm function of acute stroke survivors.
Authors: Teresa J Kimberley; Scott M Lewis; Edward J Auerbach; Lisa L Dorsey; Jeanne M Lojovich; James R Carey Journal: Exp Brain Res Date: 2003-11-15 Impact factor: 1.972
Authors: Laura Dipietro; Mark Ferraro; Jerome Joseph Palazzolo; Hermano Igo Krebs; Bruce T Volpe; Neville Hogan Journal: IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: Ethne L Nussbaum; Pamela Houghton; Joseph Anthony; Sandy Rennie; Barbara L Shay; Alison M Hoens Journal: Physiother Can Date: 2017 Impact factor: 1.037