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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009;80:614-619 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2008.161117
  • Research paper

Electrical somatosensory stimulation improves movement kinematics of the affected hand following stroke

  1. I B M Koesler1,
  2. M Dafotakis2,
  3. M Ameli1,
  4. G R Fink1,2,
  5. D A Nowak1,2
  1. 1
    Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  2. 2
    Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (IN3M), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
  1. Dr D A Nowak, Neurochirurgische und Neurologische Fachklinik, Klinik Kipfenberg, Kindinger Strasse 13, D-85110 Kipfenberg; ca{at}neurologie-kipfenberg.de
  • Received 18 August 2008
  • Revised 12 October 2008
  • Accepted 23 October 2008
  • Published Online First 14 November 2008

Abstract

Aim: The effect of electrical somatosensory stimulation on motor performance of the affected hand was investigated in 12 chronic subcortical stroke subjects.

Methods: Subjects performed index finger and hand tapping movements as well as reach-to-grasp movements with both the affected and unaffected hand prior to (baseline conditions) and following (1) 2 h of electrical somatosensory stimulation (trains of five pulses at 10 Hz with 1 ms duration delivered at 1 Hz with an intensity on average 60% above the individual somatosensory threshold) of the median nerve of the affected hand or (2) 2 h of idle time on separate occasions at least 1 week apart. The order of sessions was counterbalanced across subjects.

Results: Somatosensory stimulation of the median nerve of the affected hand, but not a period of idle time, enhanced the frequency of index finger and hand tapping movements and improved the kinematics of reach-to-grasp movements performed with the affected hand, compared with baseline. Somatosensory stimulation did not impact on motor performance of the unaffected hand.

Discussion: The data suggest that electrical somatosensory stimulation may improve motor function of the affected hand after stroke; however, further studies are needed to test if the implementation of somatosensory stimulation in rehabilitation of hand function also impacts on manual activities of daily life after stroke.

Footnotes

  • See Editorial Commentary, p 586

  • Funding: DAN was supported by an internal grant of the Köln Fortune Stiftung.

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics approval was provided by the Ethics Committee of the University of Cologne.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

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