. 2022 Mar 22;26(1):16–24. doi: 10.4235/agmr.22.0006

Table 2.

Effects of FES on physical performance in patients during the subacute phase of stroke

Study	Participants (mean age)	Muscle strength / Function	Post-stroke duration	Device	FES intervention (type)	Activity / Task	Main findings
Yan et al.²¹) (2005)	46 participants	MMT grade ≤3 (hip flexors)	9.2 ± 4.1 days after stroke	Two dual-channel stimulators (Respond Select; Empi Inc.)	FES applied for 30, 5 days per week for 3 weeks.	Applied while lying down	Decreased composite spasticity score.
Yan et al.²¹) (2005)	(70.9 y)	AMT FES group: 8.4±1.7, 8.2±1.7, 8.4±1.3	9.2 ± 4.1 days after stroke	Two dual-channel stimulators (Respond Select; Empi Inc.)	0.3 ms pulses at 30 Hz, at a current amplitude of 20–30 mA (maximum tolerance intensity).	Applied while lying down	Increased ankle dorsiflexion torque.
Ng et al.⁴⁵) (2008)	54 participants	FAC < 3	Control group: 2.5±1.2 weeks	Two single-channel FES stimulators (model R01–0093; Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)	FES was applied for 20 min, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, with a total of 20 training sessions.	Gait training on electromechanical gait trainer	Effect size difference between the “training” group and “training with FES” group on gait speed was not small. Although not significant, the “training with FES” group showed a more superior treatment effect.
	(67.9 y)		Training group: 2.7±1.2 weeks		Frequency of 40 Hz, pulse of 400 μs, rising and falling edge ramps of 0.3 seconds.
			Training with FES group: 2.3±1.1 weeks
Tong et al.⁴⁴) (2006)	2 participants	BI score: Patient A, 10; Patient B, 35	4 weeks after stroke	Two single-channel FES stimulators (model R01–0093; Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre)	FES applied for 20 min, 5 days per week for 4 weeks (20 total training sessions).	Gait training on electromechanical gait trainer	Improvements in Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Ambulation Categories Scale, 5-m timed walking test score, and Motricity Index.
	(67.0 y)	BBS score: Patient A, 4; Patient B, 16			Frequency of 40 Hz, pulse of 400 μs, rising and falling edge ramps of 0.3 seconds.		Improvements in all outcomes after 6 mo.
		FAC score: Patient A, 1; Patient B, 1
Peri et al.⁴⁶) (2016)	16 participants (74.1 y)	MI: Experimental group: 76.13±9.52 MI ; Control group: 64.14±19.00 MI	Experimental group: 14.1±2.7 days	8-channel current-controlled stimulator (RehaMove2; Hasomed GmbH, Magdeburg, Germany)	FES applied for 25 min, 15 days for 3 weeks, with active cycling at the maximum intensity tolerated by the patient.	Active cycling training – FES with voluntary pedaling.	Improved cycling and walking ability post-acute stroke after FES-augmented active cycling training.
Peri et al.⁴⁶) (2016)	16 participants (74.1 y)	Modified Ashworth Scale ≤2	Control group: 16.0±5.5 days			Active cycling training – FES with voluntary pedaling.
Bauer et al.⁴⁷) (2015)	37 participants (61.43 y)	FAC ≤2	Control group: 42.0±45.0 days	Current-controlled stimulator (RehaStim2; Hasomed GmbH)	FES applied for 20 min, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (12 total sessions).	Active leg cycling training	Improved Functional Ambulation Classification and Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment in the FES training group compared to the control group.
Bauer et al.⁴⁷) (2015)	37 participants (61.43 y)	Brunnstrom stage 4	FES group: 62.0±43.0 days	Current-controlled stimulator (RehaStim2; Hasomed GmbH)	Frequency of 25 Hz, pulse duration of 250 μs, current amplitude of 35–36 mA.	Active leg cycling training

FES, functional electrical stimulation; AMT, abbreviated mental test; BBS, Berg Balance Scale; BI, Barthel Index; FAC, Functional Ambulatory Category; MI, Motricity index; MMT, manual muscle test.