Electrical Stimulation in Lower Limb During Exercise to Improve Gait Speed and Functional Motor Ability 6 Months Poststroke. A Review with Meta-Analysis.
INTRODUCTION
Stroke is the third most common cause of disability in adults over 65 years of age and there are 30.7 million survivors after stroke worldwide. Stroke survivors have the highest odds of reporting severe disability and the greatest variety of individual domains of disability compared to a range of other conditions. Electrical stimulation of peripheral sensory-motor systems increases voluntary movement and muscle strength and thereby raises the activities of daily living (ADL). Little is known about electrical stimulation during physical activity in rehabilitation; the objective of this review is therefore to investigate whether external electrical stimulation combined with activity improves functional motor ability and gait speed in patients who have experienced a stroke within the last 6 months.


METHODS
A review and random effects meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials on gait speed and functional motor ability measured with Barthel Index (BI) and Bergs Balance Scale (BBS).


RESULTS
Eight trials were included (n = 191). Explorative meta-analysis was performed on gait speed (5 trials, n = 120), BI (3 trials, n = 74), and BBS (3 trial n = 79). A small, significant difference on gait speed 0.15 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08-0.21) m/s, but no difference in BI 2.88 (95 % CI: -3.3 to 9.07) and BBS 1.73 (95% CI: -2.8 to 6.27).


CONCLUSIONS
Sparse, low-quality evidence indicates that electrical stimulation combined with activity is a relevant intervention to improve ADL within 6 months poststroke.
['Busk|Henriette|H|', 'Stausholm|Martin Bjørn|MB|', 'Lykke|Louise|L|', 'Wienecke|Troels|T|']
D000368:Aged D004185:Disability Evaluation D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy D005081:Exercise Therapy D005260:Female D006801:Humans D035002:Lower Extremity D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009043:Motor Activity D020127:Recovery of Function D020521:Stroke D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation D013997:Time Factors D016896:Treatment Outcome D000072797:Walking Speed
electrical stimulation exercise gait Stroke ADL rehabilitation