Effect of Mirror Feedback Therapy of Contralaterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation on Hand Function of Apoplectic Hemiplegic Patients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of mirror feedback therapy of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation on hand function of apoplectic hemiplegic patients. Methods: A total of 60 apoplectic hemiplegic patients were randomly divided into group A, group B and group C, with 20 cases in each group. All three groups received treatment for 20 minutes each time, once a day, for 5 days a week, and for 4 weeks. On the basis of conventional rehabilitation treatment, patients in group A received mirror therapy (MT), patients in group B received contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES), and patients in group C received mirror feedback therapy of CCFES. Surface electromyography (sEMG), upper extremities motor function test of Fugl-Meyer movement assessment (U-FMA), box and block test (BBT) and wrist active range of motion (AROM) were used to evaluate hand function of patients before and after treatment. Results: Before treatment, average EMG (AEMG) value, median frequency (MF) value, U-FMA scores, BBT scores and wrist AROM of all three groups showed no significant differences (P>0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the AEMG value, MF value, U-FMA scores, BBT scores and wrist AROM improved significantly in all three groups (P<0.05). The AEMG value, MF value, BBT scores and wrist AROM for group C were: (73.17±29.12), (95.67±26.54), (9.50±3.28), (41.75±17.19), which were better than group A: (57.33±18.47), (77.62±31.10), (7.15±3.13), (26.75±14.53), and Group B (55.61±20.17), (74.45±23.22), (6.50±3.78), (31.50±16.47). The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The U-FMA scores of the three groups were (25.85±8.38) in group A, (25.40±9.25) in group B and (27.20±9.21) in group C. There were no significant statistical differences in U-FMA scores in the three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Mirror feedback therapy of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation can improve hand function of apoplectic hemiplegic patients, and is superior to the single CCFES or MT.