As is well known, the memorable discovery of Galvani (1791) was followed by the development of two new fields of science, electrochemistry and electrophysiology. During the course of this development, the most remarkable feature of the original finding, i.e. ‘contraction of muscle induced by a piece of metal’, gradually came to be ignored. As a consequence, the simple question as to how electrical stimulation might induce muscle contraction was left unanswered until the middle of this century, when several physiologists became aware of the crucial nature of the problem and tried to attack it from various directions. This resulted in a marked progress of physiological and morphological studies which were intentionally or unintentionally concerned with the mechanism of the link between excitation, that is the electrical phenomenon at the surface membrane, and the contractile process.

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Aim The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of individualized nutritional treatment on the activities of daily living of acute stroke patients. Methods This was a randomized controlled study. The eligibility criteria were acute stroke, age >65 years and the presence of malnutrition risk. Between September 2016 and December 2017, 128 patients were assigned to either the standard or intensive group (individualized nutritional treatment). The intensive group received energy that was calculated using the Harris–Benedict equation. The main outcome measures were the total functional independence measurement gain from the time of assignment to the time of discharge from the recovery hospital or at 3 months after the stroke onset, and motor and cognitive functional independence measurement gains. Results Compared with the standard group, the intensive group had significantly higher median energy intake (P < 0.001); significantly greater functional independence measurement gains in the total score (42 vs. 22; P = 0.02) and motor subscore (P = 0.01), but similar cognitive subscore. Conclusion Individualized nutritional treatment improved the activities of daily living of older acute stroke patients with malnutrition risk. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; ••: ••–••.

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