Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Improves Upper Limb Motor Recovery in Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiming Chen ◽  
Tai-Wa Liu ◽  
Patrick W.H. Kwong ◽  
Claudia K.Y. Lai ◽  
Raymond C.K. Chung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Motor Recovery ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Background and Purpose: Recent evidence has shown bilateral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Bi-TENS) combined with task-oriented training (TOT) to be superior to unilateral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Uni-TENS)+TOT in improving lower limb motor functioning following stroke. However, no research explored the effect of Bi-TENS+TOT in improving upper limb motor recovery. This study aimed to compare Bi-TENS+TOT with Uni-TENS+TOT, Placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Placebo-TENS)+TOT, and no treatment (Control) groups in upper limb motor recovery. Methods: This is a 4-group parallel design. One hundred and twenty subjects were given either Bi-TENS+TOT, Uni-TENS+TOT, Placebo-TENS+TOT, or Control without treatment in this randomized controlled trial. Twenty 60-minute sessions were administered 3× per week for 7 weeks. The outcome measure was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity, which was assessed at baseline, after 10 sessions (mid-intervention) and 20 sessions (post-intervention) of intervention, and at 1- and 3-month follow-up. Results: Patients in the Bi-TENS+TOT group showed greater improvement in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity scores than Uni-TENS+TOT (mean difference, 2.13; P =0.004), Placebo-TENS+TOT (mean difference, 2.63; P <0.001), and Control groups (mean difference, 3.11; P <0.001) at post-intervention. Both Bi-TENS+TOT (mean difference, 3.39; P <0.001) and Uni-TENS+TOT (mean difference, 1.26; P =0.018) showed significant within-group improvement in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity scores. Patients in the Bi-TENS+TOT group showed earlier within-group improvement in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity scores at mid-intervention than Uni-TENS+TOT. These improvements were maintained at the 3-month follow-up assessment. Conclusions: Bi-TENS combined with TOT is an effective therapy for improving upper limb motor recovery following stroke. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03112473.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Manual Therapy and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Cervical Mobility and Endurance in Subacute and Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 3245
Author(s):  
Belén Díaz-Pulido ◽  
Yolanda Pérez-Martín ◽  
Daniel Pecos-Martín ◽  
Isabel Rodríguez-Costa ◽  
Milagros Pérez-Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Manual Therapy ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Chronic Neck Pain ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Neck pain is a frequent health problem. Manual therapy (MT) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are recommended techniques for treatment of mechanical neck disorders (MND) in Spanish Public Primary Care Physiotherapy Services. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of MT versus TENS in active mobility and endurance in cervical subacute or chronic neck pain. Ninety patients with MND were randomly allocated to receive ten 30-min sessions of either MT or TENS, in a multi-centered study through 12 Primary Care Physiotherapy Units in the Madrid community. Active cervical range of motion (CD-ROM) and endurance (Palmer and Epler test) were evaluated pre- and post-intervention and at 6-month follow-up. A generalized linear model of repeated measures was constructed for the analysis of differences. Post-intervention MT yielded a significant improvement in active mobility and endurance in patients with subacute or chronic MND, and at 6-month follow-up the differences were only significant in endurance and in sagittal plane active mobility. In the TENS group, no significant improvement was detected. With regard to other variables, MT improved mobility and endurance more effectively than TENS at post-intervention and at 6-month follow-up in the sagittal plane. Only MT generated significant improvements in cervical mobility and endurance in the three movement planes.

scholarly journals Maintenance of physical activity level, functioning and health after non-pharmacological treatment of pelvic girdle pain with either transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or acupuncture: a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e046314
Author(s):  
Annika Svahn Ekdahl ◽  
Monika Fagevik Olsén ◽  
Tove Jendman ◽  
Annelie Gutke
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Pelvic Girdle ◽  
Pelvic Girdle Pain ◽  
Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Randomised Controlled

ObjectiveTo investigate if there are differences between acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as treatment for pelvic girdle pain (PGP) in pregnancy in order to manage pain and thus maintain health and functioning in daily activities and physical activity (PA).DesignRandomised controlled trial.Setting and participantsPregnant women (n=113) with clinically verified PGP in gestational weeks 12–28, recruited from maternity healthcare centres, randomised (1:1) into two groups. Exclusion criteria: any obstetrical complication, systemic disease or previous disorder that could contradict tests or treatment.InterventionsThe intervention consisted of either 10 acupuncture sessions (two sessions per week) provided by a physiotherapist or daily home-based TENS during 5 weeks.Primary outcome variablesDisability (Oswestry Disability Index), functioning (Patient Specific Functional Scale), work ability (Work Ability Index) and PA-level according to general recommendations.Secondary outcome variablesFunctioning related to PGP (Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire), evening pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS), concern about pain (NRS), health (EuroQoL 5-dimension), symptoms of depression/catastrophising (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale/Coping Strategies Questionnaire).ResultsNo mean differences were detected between the groups. Both groups managed to preserve their functioning and PA level at follow-up. This may be due to significantly (p<0.05) reduced within groups evening pain intensity; acupuncture −0.96 (95% CI −1.91 to −0.01; p=0.049), TENS −1.29 (95% CI −2.13 to −0.44; p=0.003) and concern about pain; acupuncture −1.44 (95% CI −2.31 to −0.57; p=0.0012), TENS −1.99 (95% CI −2.81 to −1.17; p<0.0001). The acupuncture group showed an improvement in functioning at follow-up; 0.82 (95% CI 0.01 to 1.63; p=0.048)ConclusionTreating PGP with acupuncture or TENS resulted in maintenance of functioning and physical activity and also less pain and concern about pain. Either intervention could be recommended as a non-pharmacological alternative for pain relief and may enable pregnant women to stay active.Trial registration number12726. https://www.researchweb.org/is/sverige/project/127261

scholarly journals Sensorimotor upper limb therapy does not improve somatosensory function and may negatively interfere with motor recovery: a randomized controlled trial in the early rehabilitation phase after stroke

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nele De Bruyn ◽  
Leen Saenen ◽  
Liselot Thijs ◽  
Annick Van Gils ◽  
Eva Ceulemans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Motor Impairment ◽  
Motor Recovery ◽  
Early Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Centre ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Therapy Design ◽  
Somatosensory Function

Question: Is sensorimotor upper limb (UL) therapy of more benefit for motor and somatosensory outcome than motor therapy? Design: Randomised assessor- blinded multi-centre controlled trial with block randomization stratified for neglect, severity of motor impairment, and type of stroke. Participants: 40 first-ever stroke patients with UL sensorimotor impairments admitted to the rehabilitation centre Intervention: Both groups received 16 hours of additional therapy over four weeks consisting of sensorimotor (N=22) or motor (N=18) UL therapy. Outcome measures: Action Research Arm test (ARAT) as primary outcome, and other motor and somatosensory measures were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and after four weeks follow-up. Results: No significant between-group differences were found for change scores in ARAT or any somatosensory measure between the three time points. For UL impairment (Fugl-Meyer assessment), a significant greater improvement was found for the motor group compared to the sensorimotor group from baseline to post-intervention (mean (SD) improvement 14.65 (2.19) versus 5.99 (2.06); p=0.01) and from baseline to follow-up (17.38 (2.37) versus 6.75 (2.29); p=0.003). Conclusion: UL motor therapy may improve motor impairment more than UL sensorimotor therapy in patients with sensorimotor impairments in the early rehabilitation phase post stroke. For these patients, integrated sensorimotor therapy may not improve somatosensory function and may negatively influence motor recovery.

scholarly journals Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation using an LTP-like repetitive stimulation protocol for patients with upper limb complex regional pain syndrome: A feasibility study

Hand Therapy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
CG Ryan ◽  
R King ◽  
V Robinson ◽  
TD Punt ◽  
HR Dinse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Pain Syndrome ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Stimulation Protocol ◽  
Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Introduction This feasibility study aimed to (i) develop a clinical protocol using a long-term potentiation-like repetitive stimulation protocol for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in patients with upper limb complex regional pain syndrome and (ii) develop a research protocol for a single-blind randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for complex regional pain syndrome. Methods This small-scale single-blind feasibility randomised-controlled trial planned to randomise 30 patients with upper limb complex regional pain syndrome to either a variant of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for three weeks. Stimulation comprised 20 pulses over 1 s with a non-stimulation interval of 5 s, a so-called repetitive electrical stimulation protocol following the timing of long-term potentiation. Pain, function and body image were measured at baseline, post-treatment and at three months follow-up. At three months, participants were invited to one-to-one interviews, which were analysed thematically. Results A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation protocol with electrodes applied proximal to the area of allodynia in the region of the upper arm was developed. Participant concordance with the protocol was high. Recruitment was below target (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (n = 6), placebo (n = 2)). Mean (SD) pain intensity for the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group on a 0 to 10 scale was 7.2 (2.4), 6.6 (2.8) and 7.8 (1.9), at baseline, post-treatment and at three-month follow-up, respectively. Qualitative data suggested that some patients found transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation beneficial, easy to use and were still using it at three months. Conclusion Patients tolerated transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation well, and important methodological information to facilitate the design of a large-scale trial was obtained (ISRCTN48768534).

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