Functional electrical stimulation for the upper limb in tetraplegic spinal cord injury: a systematic review

Abstract

Technological advances have helped to improve functional ability in spinal cord injury survivors. The aim of this study is to systematically review the evidence for functional electrical stimulation (FES) on functional tasks involving the upper limb in people with spinal cord injuries. The authors systematically searched from September 2009 to September 2014 in relevant databases using a combination of keywords covering spinal cord injury and FES. Studies were selected using pre-determined criteria. The search yielded 144 studies. Only five studies met the inclusion criteria. All five reported improvements immediately and at follow-up in functional ability as a result of FES or FES combined with conventional therapy. There is some preliminary evidence that FES may reduce disability due to upper limb-related activity limitations in tetraplegic spinal cord injury. Further work needs to examine the role of FES in more detail and in combination with other treatments.

Nature's Electric Potential: A Systematic Review of the Role of Bioelectricity in Wound Healing and Regenerative Processes in Animals, Humans, and Plants

“…This in turn improves muscle bulk, stimulating the peripheral circulation and cardiovascular conditioning (Hamid and Hayek, 2008 ). In a systematic review of FES treatment of tetraplegic SCI survivors, the five studies that met the inclusion criteria all reported some improvements in function (Patil et al, 2015 ). In a pilot study of two tetraplegic SCI patients, FES is also found to improve hand motor function (Lu et al, 2016 ).…”

The Prognostic Value of Serum Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) and S100B Level in Patients of Acute Spinal Cord Injury

“…NSE and S100B are distributed variably in the nervous centralis. Besides neurons, gliocytes and other nervous tissues may be damaged during ASCI [ 17 ]. A previous animal experiment [ 18 ] showed obvious increases in the serum levels of NSE and S100B in ASCI rats.…”

Myoelectrically Controlled FES to Enhance Tenodesis Grip in People With Cervical Spinal Cord Lesion: A Usability Study

“…As we observed a possible therapeutic effect it may become useful as a training device during occupational therapy. Whether new abilities that the participants acquired are persistent as well as if the cause is increasing muscle strength (Patil et al, 2015), neural recovery/plasticity or a result of learning new ways of manipulate things (Curt et al, 2008), remains to be investigated further but would involve large randomized controlled clinical studies.…”

“…However, even small improvements in hand function can lead to significant increase in functional independence in daily living for people with tetraplegia (Patil et al, 2015).…”