Article

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy has been shown to be
one of the most promising approaches for improving voluntary grasping function in
individuals with subacute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVE: To
determine the effectiveness of FES therapy, as compared to conventional
occupational therapy (COT), in improving voluntary hand function in individuals
with chronic (>/=24 months post injury), incomplete (American Spinal Injury
Association Impairment Scale [AIS] B-D), C4 to C7 SCI. METHODS: Eight
participants were randomized to the intervention group (FES therapy; n = 5) or
the control group (COT; n = 3). Both groups received 39 hours of therapy over 13
to 16 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Toronto Rehabilitation
Institute-Hand Function Test (TRI-HFT), and the secondary outcome measures were
Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP),
Functional Independence Measure (FIM) self-care subscore, and Spinal Cord
Independence Measure (SCIM) self-care subscore. Outcome assessments were
performed at baseline, after 39 sessions of therapy, and at 6 months following
the baseline assessment. RESULTS: After 39 sessions of therapy, the intervention
group improved by 5.8 points on the TRI-HFT's Object Manipulation Task, whereas
the control group changed by only 1.17 points. Similarly, after 39 sessions of
therapy, the intervention group improved by 4.6 points on the FIM self-care
subscore, whereas the control group did not change at all. CONCLUSION: The
results of the pilot data justify a clinical trial to compare FES therapy and COT
alone to improve voluntary hand function in individuals with chronic incomplete
tetraplegia.

Langue : ANGLAIS