The effect of electrical stimulation therapy on motor function

 The effect of electrical stimulation therapy on motor function

One of the primary factors contributing to loss of function is stroke. An individual experiences many impairments following a stroke due to loss of motor function. This means there is a loss in muscle movement and control which leads to a loss of independence in daily life, and the inability to perform tasks that an individual was once capable of performing before. In the article, “Effects of 8-week sensory electrical stimulation combined with motor training on EEG-EMG coherence and motor function in individuals with stroke," Vincent Chiun-Fan Chen et al., discusses how electrical stimulation was used before hand function training sessions can help improve hand function and control in chronic stroke patients.

The researchers discuss how most patients who experienced a stroke regain the ability to walk independently, but the recovery of arm and hand movement is limited. Less than half of the patients who had a stroke were able to regain their upper extremity motor function. In order to facilitate motor function plasticity needs to be activated during, or before motor training using strong sensory input. Researchers decided to use electrical stimulation of the motor cortex as well as fMRI to test the activation and excitability of cortical neurons. An experimental group was given 40 minutes of electrical stimulation twice a week for eight weeks by using surface electrodes at the elbow joint, and just over the median nerve. By the eighth week of treatment, it was found that the subject acquired better motor function.

In another article, “Functional electrical stimulation therapy for restoration of motor function after spinal cord injury and stroke,” Cesar Marquez-Chin and Milos R. Popovic how functional electrical stimulation can be used to produce functional movements after paralysis. The article explains how the simulations allow the individual who experienced stroke, “contract in a sequence that allows performing tasks such as grasping a key, holding a toothbrush, standing, and walking.” This emphasizes how debilitating strokes can be for individuals in their daily lives. The researchers also focus on spinal cord injury and the effects that had on patients in regards to loss of motor function. The article highlights how functional electronic stimulation is a salient tool in the field of neurohabilitation, and how effective the improvements have been in treatment. They discussed a tool, the Bionic Glove, that was used for six months which increased the ability to grasp for patients who suffered a spinal cord injury. It was reported that this was the first concrete evidence of functional electronic stimulation that had restorative effects for spinal cord injuries. 

Both articles explain the devastating consequences individuals face when they experience a stroke and spinal cord injury. The researchers were able to collect data and evidence to support the idea of using electronic stimulation as a means to regain motor control, especially in the upper extremities. This has been a breakthrough technology in the field of neuroscience/neurohabilitation that has been efficient in producing functional movements. 

References

Cesar Marquez-Chin, Milos R. Popovic, “Functional electrical stimulation therapy for restoration of motor function after spinal cord injury and stroke.” 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7245767/

Vincent Chiun-Fan Chen, et al.,  “Effects of 8-week sensory electrical stimulation combined with motor training on EEG-EMG coherence and motor function in individuals with stroke.” 2018.