F-3-05A-03
The Application of Biofeedback Therapy of Multichannel Physiological Signals in the Functional Rehabilitation of Upper Limbs of Stroke Patients
Fan Jianzhong, Wan Daofu (Nanfang Hosp., Guangzhou, P.R.China.)
Sixty-eight stroke patients were randomly divided into biofeedback therapy group and common therapy group. Both of them received common pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy. The biofeedback therapy of multichannel physiological signals included electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SD), skin temperature (ST), blood volume pulse (BVP) and heart rate (HR) which were input simultaneously or individually, was applied in the functional rehabilitation of upper limbs of the patients just in biofeedback group. The Japanese Kim's functional upper limbs measure was used to assess the functions of upper limbs of all patients before and after the treatments. The results showed that the measure scores before and after the treatments for biofeedback group were 34.36±3.86 and 87.86±7.86, for common group were 33.35±4.27 and 68.67±9.21; but the increment of the measure scores for biofeedback group was more than common group (p<0.05). This study represents that the biofeedback therapy of multichannel physiological signals was helpful to increase the functional outcome of upper limbs of stroke patients.
F-3-05A-04
THE EFFECT OF TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL STIMULATION ON LOWER EXTREMITY VOLUNTARY MOVEMENT IN HEMIPLEGIC PATIENTS.
Tetsuo Ota, Yoshihisa Masakado, Kimitaka Hase, Yutaka Tomita, Shigeru Sonoda and Naoichi Chino (Keio University, Tokyo, Japan)
Therapeutic effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES), such as reduction of spasticity and improvement of motor control, have often been observed. Moreover, improvement of gait has also been observed.
This study was carried out in order to evaluate the efficacy of TES on paretic lower extremities from the viewpoint of voluntary movement in hemiplegia. The tibialis anterior muscle on the paretic side was stimulated by surface electrodes. The frequency of impulses was 30 Hz and the pulse width 0.2 msec. The intensity of stimulation was adjusted to a level over the threshold for a visible muscle contraction. TES was applied for 20 minutes, with cycles of 5 seconds of stimulation and 5 seconds of rest. Before and after TES, patients were asked to extend and flex the knee joint on the paretic side 15 times repeatedly, as quickly and as widely as possible. The angle of the knee joint was measured continuously using an electrode goniometer that was attached to the skin. We then compared performance of the paretic lower extremity before and after TES. Although the TES was applied on the tibialis anterior muscle, we found improvement in voluntary movement of the knee joint. This suggests that TES might improve voluntary movement not only at the spinal segmental level directly, but also at the upper spinal level indirectly.
