Increase in hand muscle strength of stroke patients after somatosensory stimulation

• Published in: Annals of neurology Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 122 - 125
• Main Authors: Conforto, Adriana B., Kaelin‐Lang, Alain, Cohen, Leonardo G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2002; Willey-Liss
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Over Studies; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Female; Hand Strength; Humans; Male; Median Nerve - cytology; Median Nerve - physiology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Neurology; Neurons, Afferent - physiology; Stroke - physiopathology; Stroke - therapy; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Human; Peripheral nerve; Nervous system diseases; Stroke; Pathophysiology; Cardiovascular disease; Stimulus intensity; Striated muscle; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Somatosensory cortex; Central nervous system disease; Median nerve; Rehabilitation; Cerebrovascular disease; Strength
• ISSN: 0364-5134; 1531-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.10070

It has been proposed that somatosensory input in the form of peripheral nerve stimulation can influence functional measures of motor performance. We studied the effects of median nerve stimulation on pinch muscle strength (a function mediated predominantly by median nerve innervated muscles) in the affected hand of chronic stroke patients. A 2‐hour period of median nerve stimulation elicited an increase in pinch strength that outlasted the stimulation period. The improvement in muscle strength correlated with stimulus intensity and was identified in the absence of motor training. These results suggest that somatosensory stimulation may be a promising adjuvant to rehabilitation of the motor deficits in stroke patients.