Effect of functional electrical stimulation on postural control in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Children with cerebral palsy have impairments of postural control during static and dynamic activities. Improving postural control is one of the primary objectives of rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to study the effect of functional electric stimulation on postural control in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. A randomized controlled study was conducted on 30 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (18 boys and 12 girls) between the ages of 8 and 12 years. The children were distributed in two equal groups. The experimental group received functional electrical stimulation (pulse width 300 μs, frequency 33 Hz, 2 h/day, 3 days/week, / 3 consecutive months) in addition to the traditional physical therapy program. While the control group received the traditional physiotherapy program only for the same duration. The outcomes included postural stability indices that were measured at baseline and following 3 months of intervention using the Biodex balance system. Results A significant improvement was found in the postural stability indices of children in both groups, comparing their mean values before and after treatment. Furthermore, the results revealed a greater improvement in the postural stability of the experimental group (P < 0.001). Conclusion Functional electrical stimulation may be a useful tool to enhance the postural stability of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Clinical trial registration This study was registered in the ClinicalTrial.gov PRS (NCT04269798). https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S0009LHP&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0003GAI&ts=4&cx=74k74l

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Effect of functional electrical stimulation versus TheraTogs on gait and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy ◽

10.1186/s43161-021-00058-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shamekh Mohamed El-Shamy ◽

Ehab Mohamed Abd El Kafy

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Functional Electrical Stimulation ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Link Type ◽

Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy ◽

Gait Parameters

Abstract Background Children with cerebral palsy exhibit postural restrictions and gait problems as a result of both primary and secondary brain damage impairments. One of the main goals of cerebral palsy rehabilitation is to improve gait and balance. As a result, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of FES and TheraTogs on gait and balance in children with hemiplegic CP. A randomized controlled study was conducted on 30 children with hemiplegic CP (18 boys and 12 girls) between the ages of 8 and 12 years. The children were divided into two equal groups. In addition to the traditional physical treatment program, the FES group received functional electrical stimulation (pulse width 300 μs, frequency 33 Hz, 2 h/day, 3 days/week, 3 months). The TheraTogs group, on the other hand, received the TheraTogs strapping system as well as the same traditional program for the same time period. The 3-D motion analysis and the Biodex balance system were used to analyze gait parameters and postural stability at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. Results When comparing the mean values of the gait parameters and postural stability indices of children in both groups before and after treatment, a significant improvement was reported. Furthermore, the FES group showed a greater improvement in all of the measured outcomes (P < 0.001). Conclusion Functional electrical stimulation improves gait pattern and postural stability in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy significantly more than TheraTogs strapping systems. Clinical trial registration This study was registered in the ClinicalTrial.gov PRS (NCT05020834).

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Functional electrical stimulation cycling, goal‐directed training, and adapted cycling for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology ◽

10.1111/dmcn.14648 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 62 (12) ◽

pp. 1406-1413 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ellen L Armstrong ◽

Roslyn N Boyd ◽

Sean A Horan ◽

Megan J Kentish ◽

Robert S Ware ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Functional Electrical Stimulation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy

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Evaluation of Individualized Functional Electrical Stimulation-Induced Acute Changes during Walking: A Case Series in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21134452 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 4452

Author(s):

Nicole Zahradka ◽

Ahad Behboodi ◽

Ashwini Sansare ◽

Samuel C. K. Lee

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Functional Electrical Stimulation ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Case Series ◽

Phase Detection ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Muscle Groups

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) walking interventions have demonstrated improvements to gait parameters; however, studies were often confined to stimulation of one or two muscle groups. Increased options such as number of muscle groups targeted, timing of stimulation delivery, and level of stimulation are needed to address subject-specific gait deviations. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of using a FES system with increased stimulation options during walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Three physical therapists designed individualized stimulation programs for six children with CP to target participant-specific gait deviations. Stimulation settings (pulse duration and current) were tuned to each participant. Participants donned our custom FES system that utilized gait phase detection to control stimulation to lower extremity muscle groups and walked on a treadmill at a self-selected speed. Motion capture data were collected during walking with and without the individualized stimulation program. Eight gait metrics and associated timing were compared between walking conditions. The prescribed participant-specific stimulation programs induced significant change towards typical gait in at least one metric for each participant with one iteration of FES-walking. FES systems with increased stimulation options have the potential to allow the physical therapist to better target the individual’s gait deviations than a one size fits all device.

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