The applicazione of Low- and Medium-Frequency Electrical Stimulation in Upper arto riabilitazione - ictus Center

Challenges Faced by Patients with Upper arto Dysfunction

 

The mano is an essential organ for daily activities and serves as a key tool for humans to explore the external world and interact with the environment. Compared to other body parts, the mano and upper arto possess greater complexity and importance in motor functions. Therefore, upper arto motor function riabilitazione is a core focus in post-riabilitazione post-ictus, yet it also represents a major challenge. Patients with upper arto dysfunction caused by conditions such as ictus, spinal cord injury, or mano trauma often esperienza a slow recupero process due to the complexity of mano and upper arto movements. This prolonged riabilitazione journey poses a significant psychological challenge, potentially affecting patients' sense of self-fulfilment, and may lead to anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues. These negative emotions can, in turn, further diminish riabilitazione motivation and impact the overall qualità of life.

What is Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)?

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is a riabilitazione technique that uses low-frequency pulsed electrical currents to stimulate one or more groups of muscles through preset programs, inducing muscle contractions or simulating normal voluntary movements. The goal of FES is to migliorare or restore the functions of muscles and muscle groups affected by neurologico damage, thereby compensating for or correcting the loss of motor function in limbs and organs. In recent years, the applicazione of FES has expanded significantly, especially for patients with arto dysfunction caused by ictus or spinal cord injury. Through repeated electrical stimulation, FES can not only activate motor neurons but also promote neuroplasticity in the central nervous sistema, helping patients gradually regain voluntary motor abilities.

3. Common Electrode Placements for FES in arto allenamento

(1) Shoulder Subluxation

Patients with central nervous sistema injuries or high-level spinal cord injuries often esperienza shoulder subluxation. Strengthening the supraspinatus and the posterior part of the deltoid muscle can aiuto prevent and migliorare shoulder subluxation.

 

Stimulation electrode: Placed on the posterior one-third of the deltoid muscle;

Auxiliary electrode: Placed on the supraspinatus muscle.

(2) Triceps Muscle Weakness

For patients with central nervous sistema disorders, using NMES to strengthen the triceps brachii can migliorare elbow extension control and relieve spasticità of the biceps brachii.

Stimulation electrode: Placed below the posterior part of the deltoid muscle;

Auxiliary electrode: Placed above the olecranon (be careful to avoid stimulating the brachioradialis to prevent unwanted elbow flexion).

(3) Wrist and Finger Extensor Muscle Weakness

Due to the small size of forearm muscles, smaller electrode pads are generally recommended for stimulating the wrist and finger extensor muscles.

 

For wrist extensors:

Stimulation electrode: Placed below the lateral epicondyle of the humerus;

Auxiliary electrode: Placed proximally near the wrist joint.

 

For finger extensors:

Stimulation electrode: Placed more distally in the center of the forearm;

Auxiliary electrode: Placed proximally near the wrist joint.