ORIGINAL PAPER
Influence of sensory electrical stimulation on hand functions in chronic stroke patients: a randomised controlled trial
1
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Buraydah Private Colleges, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Beni-Suef University, New Beni-Suef, Egypt
3
Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
4
Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorder and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Submission date: 2025-07-12
Acceptance date: 2026-01-27
Online publication date: 2026-08-24
Corresponding author
Islam H. Fayed
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Buraydah Private Colleges, Al-Mulaida District, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Road, Buraydah 51418, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Buraydah Private Colleges, Al-Mulaida District, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Road, Buraydah 51418, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. Hand disability is a major impairment in neuromuscular disorders, limiting occupational performance and independence. These persistent deficits encourage exploration of new rehabilitation methods. This study aimed to assess the effect of sensory electrical nerve stimulation on hand function in chronic stroke patients.
Methods:
A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 30 individuals equally divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group had a mean age of 54.86 ± 6.11 years, mean BMI of 27.34 ± 1.82 kg/m2, and mean stroke duration of 2.6 ± 1.33 months, while the control group had a mean age of 55.06 ± 6.3 years, mean BMI of 28.2 ± 3.06 kg/m2, and mean stroke duration of 2.86 ± 1.1 months. Overall, the study included 20 males (67%) and 10 females (33%). The experimental group received sensory electrical stimulation combined with a task-specific training program, while the control group received the task-specific training only. Functional outcomes were evaluated before and after the intervention using a grip dynamometer, pinch dynamometer, digital goniometer, and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT).
Results:
Both groups showed significant post-treatment gains in grip strength, pinch strength, wrist flexion, and extension, and ARAT scores. However, improvements were significantly greater in the experimental group across all outcomes (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Adding sensory electrical stimulation to task-specific training enhances recovery of hand function in chronic stroke patients and yields superior results compared to training alone.
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. Hand disability is a major impairment in neuromuscular disorders, limiting occupational performance and independence. These persistent deficits encourage exploration of new rehabilitation methods. This study aimed to assess the effect of sensory electrical nerve stimulation on hand function in chronic stroke patients.
Methods:
A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 30 individuals equally divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group had a mean age of 54.86 ± 6.11 years, mean BMI of 27.34 ± 1.82 kg/m2, and mean stroke duration of 2.6 ± 1.33 months, while the control group had a mean age of 55.06 ± 6.3 years, mean BMI of 28.2 ± 3.06 kg/m2, and mean stroke duration of 2.86 ± 1.1 months. Overall, the study included 20 males (67%) and 10 females (33%). The experimental group received sensory electrical stimulation combined with a task-specific training program, while the control group received the task-specific training only. Functional outcomes were evaluated before and after the intervention using a grip dynamometer, pinch dynamometer, digital goniometer, and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT).
Results:
Both groups showed significant post-treatment gains in grip strength, pinch strength, wrist flexion, and extension, and ARAT scores. However, improvements were significantly greater in the experimental group across all outcomes (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Adding sensory electrical stimulation to task-specific training enhances recovery of hand function in chronic stroke patients and yields superior results compared to training alone.
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