1Associate Professor, PPG College of Physiotherapy, Coimbatore, India
2Professor, Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
3Professor, PPG College of Physiotherapy, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
*Corresponding author: Satheeskumar Durairaj Associate Professor, PPG College of Physiotherapy, Coimbatore, India. E-mail: satheesdj@gmail.com
Online published on 28 December, 2016.
Recent studies suggest that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) could be applied for the management of spasticity in adult population. No studies focused on safety and feasibility to use TENS on improves upper limb function on hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) children. So aim of this study was to identify the effects and safety of TENS combined with task oriented training (TOT) to improve upper limb function in children with HCP.
A single-blind, multicenter, randomized placebo-controlled study included 30 HCP children, aged 6.2 ±1.9 years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either TENS or Placebo-TENS with task oriented training for 3 days in a week for 8 weeks. Modified Tardieu scale (MTS) and Quality of Upper Extremity Skill Test (QUEST) were measured before and after the 8 weeks of treatment. Adverse reaction mentioned in activity log and parent rated feedback questionnaire were measured at end of 8th week.
No adverse events were found and all participants were adhered treatment protocol very well. All the parents agreed (median score-4.6 in 5 point Likert's scale) to safety of the treatment protocols. The HCP children showed improved control over elbow spasticity in MTS and upper limb function in QUEST.
TENS appears to be safe, feasible, and well tolerated in most children with hemiparesis. But need more detailed clinical research to explore the efficacy of TENS in upper limb rehabilitation in HCP subjects.
TENS, Hemiparesis, Cerebral Palsy, Spasticity, Upper Limb Function
