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Low TENS treatment on post-stroke paretic arm: a three-year follow-up

Division of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

H Kalimo

Department of Pathology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

S E Fernaeus

M Viitanen

Division of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

Objective: To determine whether stroke patients with initial increases in arm motor recovery following low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (low TENS) treatment go on to show long-term benefits. Also whether the same therapy results in long-term improvements in motor function, spasticity or activities of daily living (ADL).

Design: A three-year follow-up study.

Subjects: Twenty-eight stroke patients, who had participated in a randomized trial of daily treatment with low-frequency (1.7 Hz) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (low TENS) on the paretic arm for three months starting 6–12 months after stroke.

Outcomes: Fugl-Meyer Motor Performance Scale for evaluation of changes in arm motor function. A 6-point Ashworth Scale to measure spasticity. Barthel Index to evaluate performance in ADL.

Results: Motor function of the paretic arm had deteriorated in both treatment and control groups. Increased spasticity was seen in both groups. ADL score remained at a similar level in the low TENS group, whereas the control group had deteriorated during the same time period.

Conclusions: Low TENS stimulation started 6–12 months after stroke may not have a specific effect on arm motor function years after completion of treatment.

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