Effects of ESWT, FES, and TENS on the muscle tone and activity functions of stroke patients

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effects of three electrotherapy intervention methods on abnormally elevated muscle tone and reduced functional activities, such as walking, in stroke patients with central nervous system (CNS) injuries. A total of 32 subjects diagnosed with stroke were randomized into three experimental groups: Experimental Group 1 received extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT); Experimental Group 2 received functional electrical stimulation (FES); and Experimental Group 3 received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). MyotonPRO was used to measure abnormal muscle tone in stroke patients, and the timed up and go test (TUG) was employed to evaluate their functional activity by measuring their gait speed before and after the interventions. All three therapeutic interventions were applied to the triceps brachii, wrist extensors, quadriceps femoris, and tibialis anterior muscles three times a week for six weeks. In this study, decreased muscle tone of the triceps brachii and the wrist and increased gait speed were observed in Experimental Group 1, and decreased muscle tone of the tibialis anterior muscle and increased gait speed were observed in Experimental Group 2.