Table 3.

Characteristics of studies using electrical stimulation for the treatment of triceps spasticity after stroke.

Author	Sample	Intervention and dosage	Comparator	Outcomes	Follow-up (months)	Within group difference (over time)	Between group difference after treatment
Ganesh et al. (36) (RCT)	83 (27/30/26 IG1/IG2/CG) patients with spasticity for at least 3 months (MCSS ≥ 7)	IG1: 80-min rehabilitation (with task-oriented exercises) + 10-min Faradic Current (100 Hz) on peroneal and tibial nerves IG2: 80-min rehabilitation (with task-oriented exercises) + 10-min Russian Current (2,500 Hz) on peroneal and tibial nerves Five days a week, for 6 weeks	CG: 80-min rehabilitation (with task-oriented exercises)	MMAS aROM, pROM, mEFAP	n.a.	IG1, IG2: MMAS, mEFAP ↓ aROM, pROM ↑ CG: MMAS, mEFAP ↓ aROM, pROM ↑	MMAS, pROM† (IG2) (effect sizes reported only)
Yang et al. (37) (RCT)	25 (8/9/8 IG1/IG2/CG) with spasticity for at least 6 months	IG1: 20-min NMES (50 Hz) on tibialis anterior + 15-min gait training IG2: 20-min NMES (50 Hz) on medial gastrocnemius + 15-min gait training Three days a week, for 7 weeks	CG: 20-min stretching and ROM exercises + 15-min gait training	MAS Gastrocnemius EMG-activity, aROM, strength, gait analysis parameters	n.a.	IG1: MAS ↓ aROM, strength ↔ IG2: MAS, aROM, strength ↔ CG: MAS, aROM, strength ↔	Strength† (IG1)
Sharif et al. (38) (RCT)	38 (19/19 IG/CG) patients with sub-acute spasticity	30-min FES (40 Hz) on tibialis anterior + usual rehabilitation program Five days a week, for 6 weeks	CG: 10-min electrical stimulation on tibialis anterior + usual rehabilitation program	MAS FMA, BBS, TUG, Gait Dynamic Index (GDI)	n.a.	IG: MAS, TUG ↓ FMA, BBS, GDI ↑ CG: MAS, FMA, BBS ↑ TUG, GDI ↓	MAS, FMA, TUG, BBS, GDI†
Suh et al. (39) (RCT)	42 (21/21 IG/CG) patients with spasticity for at least 6 months (MAS ≥ 2)	30-min Bobath approach + 60-min Interferential Current (100 Hz) on the gastrocnemius One single session	CG: 30-min Bobath approach + sham Interferential Current	MAS Functional Reach Test (FRT), BBS, TUG, 10 MWT	n.a.	IG: MAS, TUG, 10 MWT↓ FRT, BBS ↑ CG: MAS, TUG, 10 MWT ↓ FRT, BBS ↔	MAS, FRT, BBS, TUG, 10 MWT†
Sabut et al. (40)	51 (27/24 IG/CG) patients with spasticity for at least 3 months	1-h rehabilitation program + 30-min electrical stimulation (35 Hz) on tibialis anterior Five days a week, for 3 months	CG: 1-h rehabilitation program, 5 days a week, for 3 months	MAS MRC, aROM, pROM, FMA	n.a.	IG: MAS ↓ MRC, aROM, pROM, FMA ↑ CG: MAS ↓ MRC, aROM, pROM, FMA ↑	MAS, MRC, aROM, pROM, FMA†
Bakhtiary et al. (41) (RCT)	35 (17/18 IG/CG) patients with spasticity	10-min infrared + 15-min Bobath approach + 9-min Faradic Current (100 Hz) on the tibialis anterior 20 daily sessions	CG: 10-min infrared + 15-min Bobath approach	MAS pROM, MRC, H/M ratio	n.a.	IG: MAS, H/M ↓ pROM ↑ MRC ↔ CG: MAS, H/M ↓ pROM ↑ MRC ↔	No statistical difference
Chen et al. (42)	24 (12/12 IG/CG) patients with spasticity for at least 1 year (MAS > 1)	20-min electrical stimulation (20 Hz) on the gastrocnemius Six days a week, for 1 month	CG: Sham electrical stimulation	MAS F/M ratio, H-reflex latency, 10-mAS	n.a.	IG: MAS, F/M ratio, 10-mAS ↓ H-reflex latency ↑ CG: MAS, F/M ratio, H-reflex latency, 10-mAS ↔	Not computed

^↑Statistically significant increase.

^↓Statistically significant decrease.

^↔No statistical difference.

^†IG overcomes comparator (listed in brackets when multiple).

IG, Intervention Group; CG, Control Group; n.a. not available; RCT, Randomized Controlled Trial; MCSS, Modified Composite Spasticity Score; MMAS, Modified Modified Ashworth Scale; aROM, active Range of Motion; pROM, passive Range of Motion; mEFAP, modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile; NMES, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation; MAS, Modified Ashworth Scale; EMG, Electromyography; FES, Functional Electrostimulation; TUG, Timed Up and Go; FMA, Fugl-Meyer Assessment; BBS, Berg Balance Scale; GDI, Gait Dynamic Index; 10MWT, 10-meter Walking Test; FRT, Functional Reach Test; MRC, Medical Research Council; 10-mAS, 10-m Ambulation Speed.