EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION ON FLEXION CONTRACTURES IN THE HEMIPLEGIC WRIST

Objective: To study the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) on flex ion contractures in the hemiplegic wrist. Design: The investigation wa s carried out following an OFF (two weeks with rehabilitation only) - ON (two weeks with ES treatment and rehabilitation) - OFF (two weeks r ehabilitation only) fixed protocol. Setting: A stroke ward and an outp atient stroke service. Subjects: Eleven hemiplegic subjects with reduc ed range of extension and increased resistance to passive movement at the wrist. Main measure: Quantitative measures of the hemiplegic postu re at the wrist, passive range of extension and resistance to passive extension of the wrist. Measurements were taken al the start of the st udy and then at two-weekly intervals. Two extra measurements were take n at the end of the ON period. Results: Following two weeks treatment with ES the posture of the wrist improved and the passive range of ext ension increased. However, there were no significant changes in the re sistance to passive movement. These benefits appeared largely to be lo st two weeks after ES was discontinued. Conclusions: Short-term ES giv es temporary improvements in contractures at the wrist in poststroke h emiplegia.