Synergetic effect of functional electrical stimulation therapy and trunk solution for inpatients with stroke hemiplegia in a convalescent rehabilitation ward

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the synergetic effect and the adaptation of Functional Electrical Stimulation Therapy (FES) and Trunk Solution (TS) for inpatients with stroke hemiplegia in a convalescent rehabilitation ward. Eleven inpatients with stroke hemiplegia able to use FES and TS in a convalescent rehabilitation participated in this study. ABA design interventions were conducted for 4 days each for a total of 12 days. Intervention using FES was conducted in both period A1 and A2, and that using FES and TS was conducted in period B. The speed, cadence, and joint angles when walking 10 m, Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS), ankle angle, and Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT) were measured in each patient on the last day of each period. Synergetic effect of FES and TS significantly improved gait speed. Decreased trunk function was found to be a characteristic of the synergetic effect of FES and TS. It was suggested that the combination of FES and TS contributed to an improvement of walking ability compared to FES alone for stroke hemiplegia patients with decreased trunk function during recovery.