Optimal multi-field functional electrical stimulation parameters for the “drinking task - reaching phase” and related upper limb kinematics repeatability in post stroke subjects

• Published in: Journal of hand therapy Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 645 - 654
• Main Authors: Sousa, Andreia S.P., da Silva, Cláudia Isabel Costa, Mesquita, Inês Albuquerque, Silva, Augusta, Macedo, Rui, Imatz-Ojanguren, Eukene, Hernandez, Erik, Keller, Thierry, Moreira, Juliana, da Fonseca, Pedro Filipe Pereira, Santos, Rubim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2022; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Assistive technologies; Biomechanical Phenomena; Data processing; Design parameters; Electric Stimulation; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Electrical stimuli; Electrodes; Functional electrical stimulation; Humans; Indicators; Kinematics; Movement analysis; Muscle function; Patients; Reproducibility; Stimulation; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Upper Extremity; United States > US; Sweden; Assistive technologies; Functional electrical stimulation; Movement analysis; Stroke; Upper extremity
• ISSN: 0894-1130; 1545-004X; 1545-004X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jht.2021.05.002

•Reliable functional electrical stimulation parameters assisted the drinking task;•Functional electrical stimulation parameters presented high to very high repeatability;•Upper limb kinematics presented moderate to very high repeatability. No specific guidelines for the management of functional electrical stimulation (FES) parameters in post stroke patients have been defined yet, despite its frequent use. The purpose of this study is to characterize the optimal FES parameters that assist the reaching phase of drinking task (“drinking task - reaching phase”) on post stroke subjects and to analyze the related upper limb (UL) movement quality indicators repeatability. An observational study with a test and re-test design involving ten post stroke subjects with UL dysfunction was performed. End-point and joint kinematics of contralesional UL were assessed during the “drinking task - reaching phase” with FES through a test and retest design. FES parameters were adjusted to improve UL function according to a consensus between physiotherapists and patients’ perspective. It was possible to establish reliable FES parameters that assisted the “drinking task - reaching phase”. All FES parameters presented high to very high repeatability and led to moderate to very high repeatability in almost UL movement quality indicators during the “drinking task - reaching phase”. These findings show that the main characteristics of FES parameters that improves patient perception of change are quite stable, which facilitate its implementation in clinical practice by allowing consistence between intervention sessions.