| Methods |
Design: Randomised controlled trial, parallel groups.
Randomisation: 'randomly divided into two groups'
Dropouts: None reported. |
| Participants |
n = 49. Time from lesion from 1 to 15 months.
Experimental: n = 24. Mean age 55.17 (SD 13.79) years.
Control: n = 25. Mean age 57.04 (SD 13.39) years.
Study criteria: (1) hospitalised hemiparetic patients; (2) aetiology of CVA; (3) ability to understand measurement procedure; (4) no ankle joint block; (5) limited or absence of spasticity of plantar flexors; (6) absent or limited sensibility disturbances. |
| Interventions |
Duration: 4 weeks.
Experimental:
Categories 5 and 7.
Peroneal nerve stimulation via surface electrodes applied either during walking or whilst seated. Used trains of monopolar rectangular pulses with a pulse duration of 0.3ms, frequency of 30Hz, timing of 1.5 seconds on and 3 seconds off. Amplitude and electrode position were adjusted to produce the best functional movement. Electrical stimulation given for 20 minutes a day, 6 days a week for 4 weeks. All experimental participants also received the control intervention.
Control:
'Traditional physiotherapy and neuromuscular facilitation treatment according to the Kabat and Bobath techniques'. Therapy given for one hour a day.
Comparison: Electrostimulation vs no treatment. |
| Outcomes |
Baseline measurement: Before intervention.
Outcome measurement: At 4 weeks after intervention ended.
Included outcomes: (1) maximal voluntary moment of ankle dorsiflexion. |
| Notes |
Combined two forms of electrostimulation, category 5 and category 7. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Unclear risk |
B ‐ Unclear |
