Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China | [b] Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, China
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Tiebin Yan, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Tel.: +86 20 81332037; Fax: +86 20 81332880; E-mail: tbyan@hotmail.com
Abstract: Background:Functional electrical stimulation (FES) to patients early after stroke has been proved to improve walking ability. The effects on abilities in activities of daily living (ADL) are not clear. Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of FES in improving lower limb function and ability in ADL of early stroke patients. Methods:Thirty-seven stroke patients were randomly allocated to standard rehabilitation (SR) group (n = 18), and FES group with FES and SR (n = 19). SR included 60 minutes each for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. FES was delivered for 30 min to induce ankle dorsiflexion and eversion. Treatments were 5 days per week for 3 weeks. Evaluations including the composite spasticity scale (CSS), lower-extremity subscale of Fugl-Myer Assessment (FMA), postural assessment scale for stroke patients (PASS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and modified Barthel Index (MBI) assessed before treatment, after 2 and 3 week treatment respectively. Results:After 2 week treatment, FES group showed a significant reduction of CSS and improvements of FMA, MBI and PASS. After 3 week treatment, FES group showed a further reduction of CSS and also improvement of FMA, MBI and BBS as well. Conclusions:FES on the paretic lower limbs early after stroke improved the mobility and ability in ADL.
Keywords: Functional electrical stimulation, stroke, lower limb, motor, activities of daily living
