Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 6 , Pages 710-714, June 2007

Effect of Sensory-Amplitude Electric Stimulation on Motor Recovery and Gait Kinematics After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Study

  • Gunes Yavuzer, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
    • Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Gunes Yavuzer, MD, PhD, Mustafa Kemal Mahallesi, Barış Sitesi 87. sok No: 24, Ankara 06800, Turkey
    • ,
  • Öznur Öken, MD

      Affiliations

    • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic of Ankara State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
    • ,
  • Mesut B. Atay, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
    • ,
  • Henk J. Stam, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract 

Yavuzer G, Öken Ö, Atay MB, Stam HJ. Effect of sensory-amplitude electric stimulation on motor recovery and gait kinematics after stroke: a randomized controlled study.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of sensory-amplitude electric stimulation (SES) of the paretic leg on motor recovery and gait kinematics of patients with stroke.

Design

Randomized, controlled, double-blind study.

Setting

Rehabilitation ward and gait laboratory of a university hospital.

Participants

A total of 30 consecutive inpatients with stroke (mean age, 63.2y), all within 6 months poststroke and without volitional ankle dorsiflexion were studied.

Intervention

Both the SES group (n=15) and the placebo group (n=15) participated in a conventional stroke rehabilitation program 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The SES group also received 30 minutes of SES to the paretic leg without muscle contraction 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

Brunnstrom stages of motor recovery and time-distance and kinematic characteristics of gait.

Results

Brunnstrom stages improved significantly in both groups (P<.05). In total, 58% of the SES group and 56% of the placebo group gained voluntary ankle dorsiflexion. The between-group difference of percentage change was not significant (P>.05). Gait kinematics was improved in both groups, but the between-group difference was not significant.

Conclusions

In our patients with stroke, SES of the paretic leg was not superior to placebo in terms of lower-extremity motor recovery and gait kinematics.

Key Words: Cerebrovascular accident, Electric stimulation, Gait, Rehabilitation

 

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(07)00166-9

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2007.02.030

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 6 , Pages 710-714, June 2007

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