Electrical stimulation for preventing and treating post-stroke shoulder pain

Management of Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

“…Importantly, it has also been shown to decrease sensory cortex activation via stimulation of unmyelinated afferent neurons [60]. Clinical reports have suggested that electrical stimulation can improve muscle strength, joint malalignment, muscle tone, sensory deficits, and self-reported pain intensity [61]. There are two types of electrical stimulation: functional electrical stimulation (FES) and transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS).…”

“…A recent Cochrane review looked at four studies investigating the effect of electrical stimulation on prevention and treatment of post-stroke shoulder pain. Unfortunately, they were unable to find sufficient evidence to either confirm or refute that electrical stimulation (either transcutaneous or functional) around the shoulder after stroke influences reports of pain [61]. The use of TENS in the treatment of a hemiplegic upper limb is even less understood, again with most studies focusing on functional outcomes like range of motion rather than on pain management.…”

La importancia de la fisioterapia en el ictus

“…De la misma manera, no existe evidencia que asegure que la estimulación eléctrica sea beneficiosa para la prevención o tratamiento del dolor de hombro en pacientes con hemiparesia consecuencia de un ictus, ya sea estimulación eléctrica funcional como TENS 15 .…”

Electroneuromyographic studies of pain sensitivity

“…Clear changes in the indices of the H reflex were observed upon rhythmic magnetic stimulation of the reflexogenic zone (1 to 39 sec -1 ). These findings showed that the excitability of spinal motoneurons can be modulated by using nonpainful transcutaneous stimulation [49,50]. Recording of the H reflex is an adequate technique allowing one to estimate the efficacy of electroimpulse influences on the spinal cord used as a curative measure in the treatment of pain and spastic syndromes [51].…”