Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on tibialis anterior muscle of spastic hemiparetic children

Abstract Background and Purpose Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in acute stroke patients while stimulating only single muscle is not known. The purpose of the study is to find the influence of early neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the motor point of tibialis anterior muscle of the affected limb in achieving early motor control of the ankle with reduction in spasticity in poststroke patients. Methods One hundred and thirty-two subjects were selected between 45and 65 years of age and within 2 weeks of the first attack of stroke. They were randomly divided into study and control groups comprising 66 subjects in each group. Study group received neuromuscular electrical stimulation to tibialis anterior muscle of the affected limb, 15 minutes twice daily, 5 days a week up to 3 weeks along with conventional exercise therapy whereas control group received only exercise therapy for that period. Outcome measures include Modified Ashworth Scale for spasticity of ankle plantar flexors, motor power of ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors, motor control of ankle joint. They were recorded before starting treatment, after 3 weeks and at 7 weeks following starting the treatment. Results Significant improvement of spasticity was noticed after 7 weeks follow-up (p=0.014). Significant improvement also noticed in ankle dorsiflexor motor power (p<0.001), ankle motor control (p=0.007). Conclusions Neuromuscular electrical stimulation along with traditional exercise programme is superior to exercise alone for early recovery of ankle motor control, plantar-flexor spasticity and ankle dorsiflexor motor strength.

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Metabolic and morphometric alterations inherent to neuromuscular electric stimulation in the antagonist muscle submitted to ankle joint immobilization

Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology ◽

10.1590/s1516-89132009000100011 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 85-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan ◽

Karina Maria Cancelliero ◽

Paula Lima Bosi ◽

Gabriel Borges Delfino ◽

Maria Imaculada de Lima Montebelo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Connective Tissue ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Electric Stimulation ◽

Glycogen Content ◽

Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽

Muscle Fibers ◽

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽

Antagonist Muscle ◽

Tissue Density

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the neuromuscular electrical stimulation (ES) on the metabolic and morfometric profile of the tibialis anterior muscle, antagonist to the soleus muscle which was stimulate, under the joint immobilization condition of the ankle for 7 and 15 days. The immobilization promoted the reduction in the muscle mass (I7: 17.36%, I15: 20.83%), in the glycogen content (I7: 48%, I15: 48%), in the muscle fibers areas (I7: 27%, I15: 40%) and increase in intramuscular connective tissue density (I7: 122%, I15: 206%). The EE didn't promote significant alterations in the mass of the immobilized groups, however, promoted increase in the glycogen (IEE7: 31.25%; IEE15: 56.25%), reduction in the muscle fibers areas (IEE7: 14%, IEE15: 24.69%) and reduction in the connective tissue density (IEE7: 25.63%, IEE15: 49.09%) when compared with the respective immobilized groups.

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