Rehabilitation with Functional Electrical Stimulation in Stroke Patients

Upper extremity hemiplegia is the primary impairment underlying stroke-induced disability. Reducing chronic hemiplegic upper extremity impairment is generally difficult, and is the impairment most frequently treated by therapists [1]. Even 3 months after stroke only 20% of the stroke survivors, however, have normal upper extremity function [2]. Whereas motor practice improves motor skill learning [3], commonly used rehabilitation protocols have been found to be ineffective [4]. A number of promising therapeutic advances are emerging in the field of stroke rehabilitation at acute and/or chronic phase. None of these is yet universally accepted for enhancing outcome after stroke. Most of the approaches are currently being studied at the preclinical or early-phase human clinical trial stage.