Role of Therapeutic Currents on Hand Function in People with Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15540/nr.13.2.186Keywords:
stroke, Upper extremity, Hand Function, Electrical StimulationAbstract
Proper upper limb (UL) function is very crucial for manual exploration and manipulation of the environment. Dexterity is affected after stroke and takes times to recover. Effective and economical treatment approaches are desired to overcome the numerous challenges associated with UL rehabilitation. This review aims at establishing the effectiveness of various therapeutic currents on hand function in individuals with stroke. A search was conducted in three databases for randomized controlled trials published from inception to November 2024. The methodological quality of the included studies was measured by the PEDro scale. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed on the studies providing sufficient and complete data. The search identified 334 records from which 12 records met the eligibility criteria. The average PEDro score was 6.92. Majority of the trials presented with low risk of bias. Meta-analysis of functional electrical stimulation (FES) showed no significant effects of FES on dexterity (SMD = 2.03, Z = 1.81,
p = .07). Meta-analysis of FES trials identified a small effect size which, while not significant, warrants further investigation. Large and more robust trials are needed with larger sample size to draw more definite conclusions.
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