Dataset Information

Electrical stimulation alters muscle morphological properties in denervated upper limb muscles.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Damage to lower motor neuron causes denervation and degeneration of the muscles affected. Experimental and clinical studies of muscle denervation in lower extremities demonstrated that direct electrical stimulation (ES) of muscle can prevent denervation atrophy and restore contractility. The aim of this study was to identify possible myogenic effect of ES on denervated forearm and hand muscles in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and tetraplegia.

Methods

This prospective interventional study with repeated measurement design included 22 patients aged 48·6 (± 15·7), 0·25 (0·1/46) years after spinal cord lesion, AIS A-D. In each patient, two electrophysiologically-confirmed denervated muscles in the hand and forearm were analyzed - one extrinsic (Extensor Carpi Ulnaris - ECU) and one intrinsic (1st Dorsal Interosseus - IOD1). Muscles were stimulated for 33 min, five times per week over a 12-weeks period. Using ultrasonography (USG), muscle thickness (MT) and pennation angle (PA) of these muscles were determined at start and end of the stimulation period.

Findings

MT of IOD1 increased from 6·3 mm (± 3·2 mm) to 9·2 mm (± 2·4 mm) (p = 0·004) and the PA from 5·5° (± 3·0°) to 11° (± 2·2°) (p = 0·001). The corresponding values for the ECU were 5·5 mm (± 2·5 mm) to 7·0 mm (± 2·2 mm) (p = 0·039) and 5·5° (± 3·4°) to 9·4° (± 3·8°) (p = 0·005), respectively. The correlation of MT between baseline and completion was r = 0·58 (p = 0·037) for the ECU and r = 0·63 (p = 0·008) for the IOD1.

Interpretation

12 weeks of direct muscle stimulation increases the MT and PA of the denervated intrinsic and extrinsic hand muscles studied.

Funding

Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Switzerland.

SUBMITTER: Bersch I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8671101 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Effective poststroke motor rehabilitation depends on repeated limb practice with voluntary efforts. An electromyography (EMG)-driven neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)-robot arm was designed for the multi-joint physical training on the elbow, the wrist, and the fingers. OBJECTIVES:To investigate the training effects of the device-assisted approach on subacute stroke patients and to compare the effects with those achieved by the traditional physical treatments. METHOD:This study was a pilot randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up. Subacute stroke participants were randomly assigned into two groups, and then received 20-session upper limb training with the EMG-driven NMES-robotic arm (NMES-robot group, n?=?14) or the time-matched traditional therapy (the control, n?=?10). For the evaluation of the training effects, clinical assessments including Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Score (MAS), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and Function Independence Measurement (FIM) were conducted before, after the rehabilitation training, and 3?months later. Session-by-session EMG parameters in the NMES-robot group, including normalized co-contraction Indexes (CI) and EMG activation level of target muscles, were used to monitor the progress in muscular coordination patterns. RESULTS:Significant improvements were obtained in FMA (full score and shoulder/elbow), ARAT, and FIM [P?<?0.001, effect sizes (EFs)?>?0.279] for both groups. Significant improvement in FMA wrist/hand was only observed in the NMES-robot group (P?<?0.001, EFs?=?0.435) after the treatments. Significant reduction in MAS wrist was observed in the NMES-robot group after the training (P?<?0.05, EFs?=?0.145) and the effects were maintained for 3?months. MAS scores in the control group were elevated following training (P?<?0.05, EFs?>?0.24), and remained at an elevated level when assessed 3?months later. The EMG parameters indicated a release of muscle co-contraction in the muscle pairs of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis and biceps brachii and triceps brachii, as well as a reduction of muscle activation level in the wrist flexor in the NMES-robot group. CONCLUSION:The NMES-robot-assisted training was effective for early stroke upper limb rehabilitation and promoted independence in the daily living comparable to the traditional physical therapy. It could achieve higher motor outcomes at the distal joints and more effective release in muscle tones than the traditional therapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02117089; date of registration: April 10, 2014.