Article

Hybrid assistive neuromuscular dynamic stimulation
(HANDS) therapy was devised to facilitate the use of the hemiparetic upper
extremity in daily life by combining assistive neuromuscular electrical
stimulation, referred to as the integrated volitional electrical stimulator
(IVES), with a splint.
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of
HANDS therapy for patients with subacute stroke.
METHODS: The participants were
24 inpatients receiving rehabilitation for hemiparetic stroke within 60 days of
onset. Entry criteria included inability to individuate finger extension.
Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The HANDS group (n = 12) used the
IVES combined with a wrist splint for 8 hours a day for 3 weeks, and the control
group (n = 12) wore a wrist splint alone. All patients received the same daily
dose and length of standard poststroke multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Outcome
measures were the upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA),
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and Motor Activity Log-14 (MAL). RESULTS: In
all, 10 patients in each group completed the interventions. Compared with the
control group, the HANDS group showed significantly greater gains in distal
(wrist/hand) portion of the FMA (P < .01) and improvement of the ARAT (P < .05).
The gains in the MAL did not differ. No adverse effects occurred and the HANDS
therapy was well accepted. CONCLUSION: HANDS therapy in addition to conventional
therapy may improve hand function in patients with moderate to severe hand
impairment during early rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS