Table 1.
Summary of included studies.
| Study | Design | Participants and groups allocation | Intervention |
Outcome measures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency and duration | Parameters of stimulation | ||||
| Chan et al. (2004)21 | RCT | Participants: children with spastic diplegic or hemiplegic CP Experimental group: n: 6; age (yr): 6.3 ± 1.0; gender: 4 M, 2 F Control group: n: 6; age (yr): 6.5 ± 2.7; gender: 5 M, 1 F |
Experimental group: NMES applied on the triceps surae muscle + treadmill (0.45–0.80 m/s) 15 min, 3/wk × 4 wk Control group: Treadmill (0.45–0.80 m/s) 15 min, 3/wk × 4 wk |
Frequency: 30–35 Hz Intensity: visible muscle contraction Pulse width: not reported Time on/time off: not reported |
GMFM dimension D (standing) GMFM dimension E (walking, running and jumping) |
| Karabay et al. (2012)22 | RCT | Participants: children with spastic diplegic CP Experimental group: n: 17; age (yr): 5.4 ± 2.0; gender: not reported Control group: n: 16; age (yr): 6.5 ± 2.74; gender: not reported |
Experimental group: FES applied on lumbar and abdominal muscles + conventional physical therapy and neurodevelopmental therapy 30 min, 5/wk × 4 wk Control group: Conventional physical therapy and neurodevelopmental therapy 30 min, 5/wk × 4 wk |
Frequency: 25 Hz Intensity: 20–30 mA Pulse width: 250 μs Time on/time off: 10 s/12 s |
GMFM dimension B (sitting) (trunk control-sitting balance) |
| Karabay et al. (2016)23 | RCT | Participants: children with spastic diplegic CP Experimental group: n: 23; age (yr): 5.4 ± 2.0; gender: not reported Control group: n: 19; age (yr): 6.5 ± 2.74; gender: not reported |
Experimental group: NMES applied on lumbar and abdominal muscles + conventional physical therapy and neurodevelopmental therapy 30 min, 5/wk × 4 wk Control group: Conventional physical therapy and neurodevelopmental therapy 30 min, 5/wk × 4 wk |
Frequency: 25 Hz Intensity: 20 to 30 mA Pulse width: 250 μs Time on/time off: 10 s/12 s |
GMFM dimension B (sitting) (trunk control-sitting balance) |
| Linden et al. (2003)24 | RCT | Participants: children with hemiplegic diplegic and quadriplegic CP. Experimental group: n: 11; age (yr): 8.6 ± 2.10; gender: not reported Control group: n: 11; age (yr): 8.2 ± 2.11; gender: not reported |
Experimental group: NMES applied on the gluteus maximus of the most affected leg + conventional physical therapy and home exercise therapy 60 min, 6/wk × 8 wk (adaptation for 2 wk) Control group: Conventional physical therapy and home exercise therapy |
Frequency: Week 1–10 Hz (60 min) Week 2–30 Hz (30 min); 10 Hz (30 min) Week 3–8 – 30 Hz (60 min). Intensity: not reported Pulse width: week 1 – 75 μs (60 min) Week 2 – 100 μs (30 min); 75 μs (30 min) Week 3–8 – 100 μs (60 min). Time on/time off: week 1 – 5 s/10 s (60 min) Week 2 – 5 s/15 s (30 min); 5 s/10 s (30 min) Week 3–8 – 5 s/15 s (60 min) |
GMFM dimension E (walking, running and jumping) |
| Mohanty et al. (2016)14 | RCT | Participants: children with spastic diplegic CP. Experimental group: n: 20; age (yr): not reported separately; Gender: not reported Control group: n: 20; age (yr): not reported separately; Gender: not reported |
Experimental group: NMES applied on the gluteus maximus (lying position) and quadriceps (sitting position) + conventional physical therapy (strengthening exercises) 15 min each muscle (30 min total), 5/wk × 6 wk (adaptation for 2 wk) Control group: Conventional physical therapy (strengthening exercises) 30 min, 5/wk × 6 wk |
Frequency: 50 Hz. Intensity: maximum tolerable used to produce a visible contraction but as tolerated by the child Pulse width: 300 μs Time on/time off: 5 s/15 s |
GMFM dimension D (standing) GMFM dimension E (walking, running and jumping) |
| Park et al. (2001)25 | RCT | Participants: children with spastic diplegic CP. Experimental group: n: 14; age (yr): 1.13 ± 0.36; gender: 9 M, 5 F Control group: n: 12; age (yr): 1.04 ± 0.31; gender: 8 M, 4 F |
Experimental group: FES applied on the abdomen and posterior back muscles + neurodevelopmental therapy 30 min, 6/wk × 6 wk Control group: Neurodevelopmental therapy 30 min, 5/wk × 6 wk |
Frequency: 35 Hz. Intensity: 25–30 mA Pulse width: 250 μs Time on/time off: 5 s/15 s |
GMFM dimension D (standing) |
Abbreviations: CP, cerebral palsy; FES, functional electrical stimulation; GMFM, gross motor function measure; M, male; F, female; NMES, neuromuscular electrical stimulation; RCT, randomized controlled trial; yr, year; wk, week.