The effects of electrical stimulation on upper limb motor function, left-right coordination and balance after a stroke
10.3760/cma.j.cn421666-20230910-00714
- VernacularTitle:左右制衡机制下不同电刺激对脑卒中后偏瘫患者大脑皮质兴奋性和上肢运动功能的影响
- Author:
Ruiyue WANG
1
;
Lina QI
1
;
Linyu CHEN
1
;
Bing HOU
1
;
Na DOU
1
;
Pengcheng CHE
1
Author Information
1. 华北理工大学护理与康复学院，唐山 063210
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Stroke;
Electrical stimulation;
Cortical excitability;
Upper limb motor function;
Left-right coordination;
Left-right counterbalance
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2025;47(1):19-24
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the effects of different electrical stimulations on cerebral cortex excitability, upper limb motor function, left-right coordination and counterbalance mechanisms among stroke survivors.Methods:Thirty stroke survivors with hemiplegia were randomly divided into a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) group and a contralateral control functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) group, each of 15. In addition to conventional rehabilitation treatment, the NMES group was additionally given daily 20-minute NMES to promote elbow extension and wrist extension 5 days a week for 4 weeks, while the CCFES group was given CCFES, instead. Before and after the treatment, the bilateral resting motor thresholds (RMTs), motor evoked potential (MEPs) cortical latency, MEP amplitude and inter-hemisphere asymmetry (IHA) index were measured. The Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment (FMA-UE) and the Hong Kong version of the functional test for hemiplegic upper extremities (FTHUE-HK) were employed to evaluate the subjects′ motor functioning. Pearson correlation coefficients relating cortical excitability with upper extremity function were computed.Results:After the treatments, significant improvement was observed in both groups in the latency and amplitude of the RMT and MEP of the affected hemisphere, the IHA value, as well as the FMA-UE and FTHUE-HK scores. The CCFES group then had scores significantly superior to those in the NMES group, on average. The improvements in the FMA-UE and FTHUE-HK scores were significantly positively correlated with the gap in IHA values and the MEP amplitude of the affected hemisphere.Conclusions:Both NMES and CCFES can improve the excitability of the affected motor cortex after a stroke. They help to restore the dynamic balance between the brain hemispheres for better motor functioning of the upper limbs. CCFES has a better therapeutic effect than NMES. The improvement in upper limb motor function is positively correlated with the increase in cortical excitability of the affected hemisphere and the normalization of inter-hemisphere asymmetry.
