A pilot study to measure upper extremity H-reflexes following neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy after stroke

NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS

卷:535

Article

Stowe, A. M.¹  Hughes-Zahner, L.¹  Barnes, V. K.¹  Herbelin, L. L.²  Schindler-Ivens, S. M.³  Quaney, B. M.^1,2,4 

[1] Univ Kansas, Med Ctr, Landon Ctr Aging, Kansas City, KS 66103 USA

[2] Univ Kansas, Med Ctr, Dept Neurol, Kansas City, KS 66103 USA

[3] Marquette Univ, Dept Phys Therapy, Milwaukee, WI 53233 USA

[4] Washburn Univ, Dept Allied Hlth, Topeka, KS 66621 USA

关键词: Stroke;    H-reflex;    FCR;    ECRL;    Upper extremity spasticity;    Neuromuscular electrical stimulation;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neulet.2012.11.063

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Upper extremity (UE) hemiparesis persists after stroke, limiting hand function. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an effective intervention to improve UE recovery, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Our objective was to establish a reliable protocol to measure UE agonist antagonist forearm monosynaptic reflexes in a pilot study to determine if NMES improves wrist function after stroke. We established the between-day reliability of the H-reflex in the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) and flexor carpi radialis (FCR) musculature for individuals with prior stroke (n = 18). The same-day generation of ECRL/FCR H-reflex recruitment curves was well tolerated, regardless of age or UE spasticity. The between-day reliability of the ECRL H-reflex was enhanced above FCR, similar to healthy subjects [20], with the Hmax the most reliable parameter quantified in both muscles. H-reflex and functional measures following NMES show the potential for NMES-induced increases in ECRL Hmax, but confirmation requires a larger clinical study. Our initial results support the safe, easy, and efficacious use of in-home NMES, and establish a potential method to measure UE monosynaptic reflexes after stroke. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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