The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on regional cerebral blood flow in patients with stroke
- VernacularTitle:经皮穴位电刺激对脑卒中患者脑局部血流量的影响
- Author:
Youhua GUO
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Stroke;
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
Regional cerebral blood flow;
Randomized controlled trial
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2003;0(11):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of one session of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in stroke patients. Methods Twenty-two stroke patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The rCBF changes in all patients were examined using single positron emission computerized tomorgraphy (SPECT). Scans were performed twice with an interval of 1 h. The patients in the treatment group were treated with TENS during the 1h interval. Eight acupuncture points on the paralyzed limb (LI15, LI11 , LI4, SJ5 on the upper limb and ST36, ST41 , GB34, BL60 on the lower limb) were treated. rCBF changes in the affected hemisphere, as well as at mirror sites on the affected hemisphere, were analyzed in terms of their semi-quantity value, asymmetry index and the percentage change over the two sessions. Results The radioactivity counts, semi-quantity values and percentage changes were significantly greater in the TENS group, while the asymmetry index was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conclusion TENS can increase rCBF in both the affected and unaffected hemispheres of stroke patients. That TENS improves motor function after stroke may be related to increasing the rCBF levels and stimulating functional activity in the brain cells.
