Pilot Study of Functional Electrical Stimulation Added to Physiotherapy for Treating Severe Stroke-Related Neuromyopathy in Intensive Rehabilitation

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of combining physiotherapy with functional electrical stimulation FES for patients who have severe acquired brain injury SABI caused by vascular events and diagnosed with Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness ICU-AW. This pilot study focuses on improving lower limb neuromyopathy and motor function through neuroplasticity stimulation by integrating electrical impulses into physiotherapy exercises. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives conventional physiotherapy and speech therapy with an additional 15 physiotherapy sessions over 5 weeks. The experimental group receives the same conventional treatment plus 15 physiotherapy sessions combined with FES, where electrical stimulation is applied through skin electrodes during active exercises. Both treatments last 60 minutes per session. Throughout the study, researchers assess improvements using clinical scales like the Medical Research Council MRC scale, Fugl-Meyer scale, and Short Physical Performance Battery SPPB, as well as measurements of joint range of motion and neurophysiological and ultrasound examinations. Outcomes are evaluated at the end of treatment 5 weeks and at a 12-week follow-up. Safety and progress are monitored to compare the effects between the two groups.

Functional Electrical Stimulation to Treat Critical Neuromyopathy After Severe Stroke: a Pilot Study.