Combined Electrical Stimulation and Motor Relearning Program for Right Hemiparesis After Ischemic Stroke

Abstrak

Background: Ischemic stroke commonly causes hemiparesis, resulting in impaired muscle strength, joint mobility, balance, and functional mobility. Electrical Stimulation (ES) and Motor Relearning Program (MRP) are used in stroke rehabilitation, but reports describing their combined application remain limited.
Objective: To describe the physiotherapy management and clinical outcomes of combined ES and MRP on joint range of motion, muscle strength, spasticity, balance, and functional motor performance in a patient with right hemiparesis following ischemic stroke.
Methods: This case report involved a 36-year-old man with right hemiparesis secondary to ischemic stroke who received six physiotherapy sessions combining ES and MRP. Outcomes were assessed before treatment and after the sixth session using goniometry, Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Modified Motor Assessment Scale (MMAS). Descriptive comparison was performed between baseline and final assessments.
Results: Shoulder abduction improved from 160° to 170°, shoulder flexion from 165° to 170°, hip flexion from 115° to 125°, and ankle dorsiflexion from 10° to 20°. Muscle strength improved in selected groups, including shoulder flexors (3+ to 4), shoulder abductors (3+ to 4), elbow extensors (3+ to 5+), hip abductors (3+ to 4), hip internal rotators (3+ to 4), and knee extensors (3+ to 4). BBS increased from 39 to 46. MAS remained unchanged, with mild elbow flexor spasticity, and MMAS remained 47.
Conclusion: Six sessions of combined ES and MRP were associated with improvements in selected joint range of motion, muscle strength, and balance, but not spasticity or functional motor performance.