%0 Journal Article
%T Electromyogram
%A Daniele Piscitelli
%A Katia Monte-Silva
%A Marc Aureli Pique Batalla
%A Mindy F. Levin
%A Nahid Norouzi-Gheidari
%A Philippe Archambault
%J Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
%@ 1552-6844
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1545968319826053
%X Background. Clinical trials have demonstrated some benefits of electromyogram-triggered/controlled neuromuscular electrical stimulation (EMG-NMES) on motor recovery of upper limb (UL) function in patients with stroke. However, EMG-NMES use in clinical practice is limited due to a lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness. Objective. To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effects of EMG-NMES on stroke UL recovery based on each of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) domains. Methods. Database searches identified clinical trials comparing the effect of EMG-NMES versus no treatment or another treatment on stroke upper extremity motor recovery. A meta-analysis was done for outcomes at each ICF domain (Body Structure and Function, Activity and Participation) at posttest (short-term) and follow-up periods. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on stroke chronicity (acute/subacute, chronic phases). Sensitivity analysis was done by removing studies rated as poor or fair quality (PEDro score <6). Results. Twenty-six studies (782 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Fifty percent of them were considered to be of high quality. The meta-analysis showed that EMG-NMES has a robust short-term effect on improving UL motor impairment in the Body Structure and Function domain. No evidence was found in favor of EMG-NMES for the Activity and Participation domain. EMG-NMES had a stronger effect for each ICF domain in chronic (¡Ý3 months) compared to acute/subacute phases. Conclusion. EMG-NMES is effective in the short term in improving UL impairment in individuals with chronic stroke
%K electromyography
%K electric stimulation therapy
%K neuromuscular electrical stimulation
%K stroke
%K stroke rehabilitation
%K upper extremity
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1545968319826053