FINAL POST!

In summary, NMES can be seen as a viable treatment tool in the rehabilitation of the upper limb post stroke. The main functional advantage offered by NMES is its ability to correctly position the humeral head in the glenoid fossa. This reduces sublaxation of the GHJ, which is a common complication of stroke. NMES fulfils this purpose by using a standard frequency of 50Hz, which is an optimal pulse frequency for muscle strengthening. This is in comparison to the wide frequency variations (1-200Hz) implemented by standard TENS machines. However, NMES treatment parameters are not specific to individual body parts.

Whilst the majority of literature is supportive of the use of NMES in rehabilitation programs post stroke, many studies also identify the fact that whilst NMES can help increase function and reduce sublaxation, it is not always effective in relieving upper limb pain. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that NMES may only be effective when the patient is receiving regular treatments.

A significant contraindication for use, which is specific to post stroke patients, is diminished or altered sensation.  Such sensory deficits can affect their ability to recognize the response of their body to the treatment. However, the cost effective nature of this treatment, coupled with the increasing demand placed on the health care system as a result of an ageing population, ensures it’s place as a crucial treatment modality for rehabilitation of the upper limb post stroke.

As this is our last post on this topic, we would like to thank all of you who have followed our progress and hopefully learnt from the information obtained. We look forward to learning more about the future direction and changes of NMES and its use in rehabilitation of the upper limb post stroke in the coming years.

This is Hayley and Meg, signing out.
:-)