2004 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 29-35
A power-assisted electrical stimulator was developed for motor function improvement of stroke patients, and was clinically evaluated.
The present stimulator can change its stimulation intensity in proportion to the amplitude of voluntary EMG, and give an electrical stimulation of subthreshold intensity during no voluntary contraction. A pair of electrodes were used for both EMG detection and electrical stimulation. Thus, the stimulator can facilitate and amplify weak muscle voluntary contractions of stroke patients. It was expected that the stroke patients might relearn the motor control through the repetitive contraction with the stimulator.
The stimulator was applied to the clinical training for 15 minutes, and its treatment effect was evaluated in comparison with the conventional therapeutic electrical stimulation (TES). The effects were examined in the active range of motion, the muscle strength, and the coordination of the ankle joints. Ten hemiplegic patients (Age: 25-76 years old, SIAS-M foot pat score 2) participated in this study, and were randomly divided into two groups for treating different TES programs.
The treatment improvements were observed in both methods. The power-assisted stimulator group showed greater improvements in dorsiflexion strength, compared with the conventional TES group. There were no significant differences in the active range of motion and coordination between the groups.
The power-assisted stimulator was more effective to facilitate voluntary contraction than the conventional TES in enhancing isometric strength, and was able to assist the patients in the correct recognition and motor learning of the target muscle.
