Effects of electrical stimulation on flexion contractures in the hemiplegic wrist

Objective: To study the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) on flexion contractures in the hemiplegic wrist. Design: The investigation was carried out following an OFF (two weeks with rehabilitation only) - ON (two weeks with ES treatment and rehabilitation) - OFF (two weeks rehabilitation only) fixed protocol. Setting: A stroke ward and an outpatient stroke service. Subjects: Eleven hemiplegic subjects with reduced range of extension and increased resistance to passive movement at the wrist. Main measure: Quantitative measures of the hemiplegic posture at the wrist, passive range of extension and resistance to passive extension of the wrist. Measurements were taken al the start of the study and then at two-weekly intervals. Two extra measurements were taken 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 extension increased. However, there were no significant changes in the resistance to passive movement. These benefits appeared largely to be lost two weeks after ES was discontinued. Conclusions: Short-term ES gives temporary improvements in contractures at the wrist in poststroke hemiplegia.