Details of studies in neuromuscular electrical stimulation to assist with muscle strength and function (upper limb) section
| Reference | Study design | Age range (years) | n | Muscles stimulated | Results | Session duration and frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamper et al13 | ABC | 5–15 | 8 | Wrist flexors and extensors | ↑ROM, ns spasticity, ns passive resistance, ↑wrist extensor strength, ns coactivation | 15–30 min daily for 3 months |
| Vaz et al14 | Pretest/post-test design | 7–11 | 9 | Wrist flexors and extensors | ↑Wrist extensor and flexor strength, ns passive resistance wrist flexors, ns function | Three sessions per week (unspecified duration) for 8 weeks of resisted exercises in extended wrist range with NMES as adjunct stimulus |
| Atwater et al28 | Case series* | 11 and 12.5 | 2 | Wrist extensors | ns function, ns ROM, ns overall motor development | As part of a 20 min intervention three times a week for 8 weeks |
| Carmick34 | Case series | 1.6 and 6.7 | 2 | Anterior deltoid, shoulder flexors, triceps brachii, wrist extensors, finger flexors, thumb extensors, thumb abductors (not all used in both patients) | Improvements in function, awareness and spontaneous use of impaired upper limb described | Weekly to twice weekly, unspecified duration sessions of ‘targeted’ FES for between 6 weeks and 6 months |
| Wright and Granat35 | ABA | 5–15 | 8 | Wrist extensors | ↑Function, ↑ROM, ns wrist extension moment | 30 min daily for 6 weeks |
↑Indicates statistically significant (p<0.05) increase; ns indicates no statistically significant difference (p>0.05).
↵* The two children who received upper limb NMES were a subgroup of 10 children in Atwater's study. Although this study was not a case study, the subgroup results for these children have been considered as such for the purposes of this review section.
ABA, baseline-intervention-follow-up; ABC, baseline-intervention1-intervention2; FES, functional electrical stimulation; NMES, neuromuscular electrical stimulation; ROM, ranges of motion.