Analysis of the results of functional electrical stimulation on hemiplegic patients?? upper extremities using the Minnesota manual dexterity test

Abstract

To study the influence of functional electric stimulation (FES) on grip acquisition and on the change of grip processing speed, 38 hemiplegic patients took part in the rehabilitation program of the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine of the Hospital das Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo. Half of the patients received FES on their wrist and finger extensor muscles. The patients in this study were evaluated initially, then after 3 months and after 6 months using the Minnesota manual dexterity test. We concluded that the time necessary for use of FES to generate a significant improvement in the grip speed in hemiplegic patients is 6 months, using twice-weekly administration of stimulation.

Determination of the relationship between cognitive function and hand dexterity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a cross-sectional study

“…Placement and turning scores of Minnesota were significantly lower than healthy subjects. Different parameters of the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test has been used for evaluation of therapeutic purposes with various patients in the literature (Cederlund, 1995;Lourencao, Battistella, Martins, and Litvoc, 2005). In our study, we chose to use the placement and turning functions of the test in order to imitate daily living activities.…”

A home-based rehabilitation program for the hemiplegic upper extremity by power-assisted functional electrical stimulation

“…Lourencao et al [15] reported that 6 months is necessary for FES use to generate a significant improvement in grip speed in hemiplegic patients, and we had hypothesized that an effective home FES program would need such a long time as five months to improve upper extremity function. For long-term daily use as a home-based FES system, the device should be easy and safe to operate.…”

Rehabilitation with Functional Electrical Stimulation in Stroke Patients

“…Other studies have also examined whether daily home use of an upper limb FES device can change the physical status and functional abilities in patients with chronic hemiparesis who are already receiving long-term physical therapy [26,27]. Lourencao et al [28] reported that at least 6 months is necessary for FES use to generate a significant improvement in grip speed in hemiplegic patients. They hypothesized that an effective home FES program would need such a long time as five or six months to improve upper extremity function.…”

“…Some studies analyzing FES describing relief of spasticity and opening of the hemiplegic hand have attributed this finding to the mechanism of reciprocal inhibition of the finger flexor muscles, at the moment when the extensor muscles in hemiplegic patients are stimulated [27][28][29][30]. Not only reciprocal inhibition of antagonist muscle electrical stimulation, but simultaneous voluntary muscle contraction could also decrease antagonist muscle tone.…”