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http://dx.doi.org/10.13066/kspm.2017.12.2.43

Effect of Exercise with Functional Electrical Stimulation and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Muscle Tone, Stiffness of Calf Muscle, and Balance Ability in Patients with Stroke  

Park, Shin-Jun (Dept. of Physical Therapy, Gangdong College)
Cho, Kyun-Hee (Dept. of Physical Therapy, Yongin University Graduate School)
Cho, Yong-Hun (Avense Rehabilitation Hospital)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine / v.12, no.2, 2017 , pp. 43-52 More about this Journal
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the impact of exercise with that of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on muscle tone, calf muscle stiffness, and balance ability in patients with stroke. METHODS: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly divided into an FES group (n=15) and a TENS group (n=15), and a progressive task-oriented exercise was assigned to them. These exercises were performed non-synchronously from December 5, 2016 to January 31, 2017. Patients underwent TENS and simultaneously exercised for 30 minutes daily, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. To determine the effect of the interventions, muscle tone and stiffness of the medial and lateral region of gastrocnemius muscle were measured using the MyotonPRO instrument and balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale. RESULTS: Both groups revealed a significant decrease in muscle tone and stiffness of the medial part of gastrocnemius muscle before and after the interventions (p<.05). Berg Balance Scale scores increased significantly (p<.05). However, none of the other parameters were significantly different (p>.05). CONCLUSION: Our results prove that progressive task-oriented exercise along with FES and TENS decreases muscle tone and stiffness of the gastrocnemius muscle in patients with stroke and improves balance. TENS could serve as a complementary replacement for functional electrical stimulation for in-house training, as TENS poses less risk of muscle fatigue and has lesser contraindications than does functional electrical stimulation.
Keywords
Functional electrical stimulation; Gastrocnemius muscle tone; Stiffness; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 5  (Citation Analysis)
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