Table 1 Characteristics of included trials (n = 5)
Study | Design | Participants | Interventiona | Outcome measuresb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency and duration | Characteristics | ||||
Bauer et al. [17] | RCT | n = 37 Age (y) = 61 (12) Time since stroke (days) = 52 (44) Early subacute phase | Exp: cycling using FEST alone 20 min × 3/wk x 4wk Con: cycling without functional electrical stimulation 20 min × 3/wk x 4wk End treatment (4wk)c and 6wk | Affected leg Muscles: knee flexors and extensors Frequency: 20–60 Hz Pulse width: 300–450 µs Current: visible muscle contraction below the pain threshold | Motricity Index (0–100) 10MWT (m/s) |
Ambrosini et al. [18] | RCT | n = 52 Age (y) = 74 (12) Time since stroke (days) = 16 (10) Early subacute phase 3wk and end treatment (6 wk)c, and 30 wk | Exp: cycling using FEST + exercise programs (stretching, muscular conditioning, exercises for trunk control, standing, cycling and walking, and upper limb rehabilitation) (20 min + 70 min) × 5/wk x 6wk Con: exercise programs (stretching, muscular conditioning, exercises for trunk control, standing, cycling and walking, and upper limb rehabilitation) 70 min × 5/wk x 6wk | Affected and unaffected leg Muscles: knee flexors, ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors Frequency: 20 Hz Pulse width: 400 µs Current: Affected leg: visible contraction under pain tolerance threshold Unaffected leg: above the sensory threshold | Motricity Index (0–100) 10MWT (m/s) 6MWT (m) Berg Balance Scale (0–56) Trunk Control Test (0–21) |
Peri et al. [19] | RCT | n = 16 Age (y) = 74 (10) Time since stroke (days) = 15 (4) Early subacute phase | Exp: cycling using FEST + exercise programs (strength and stretching exercises, gait training, stairs, hand rehabilitation) (25 min + 50 min) × 5/wk x 3wk Con: exercise programs (strength and stretching exercises, gait training, stairs, hand rehabilitation) 75 min × 5/wk x 3wk End treatment (3 wk)c | Affected and unaffected leg Muscles: knee flexors and extensors, ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors Frequency: NR Pulse width: NR Current: Affected leg: maximum intensity tolerated Unaffected leg: visible muscle contraction | 6MWT (m/s) 6MWT (m) FIM (18–126) |
Lee et al. [24] | RCT | n = 16 Age (y) = 63 (14) Time since stroke (days) = 60 (43) Early subacute phase | Exp: cycling using FEST alone 30 min × 5/wk x 4wk Con: cycling without functional electrical stimulation 30 min × 5/wk x 4wk End treatment (4wk)c | Affected leg Muscles: hip extensor, knee flexors and extensors, ankle plantar flexors Frequency: 60 Hz Pulse width: 300 µs Current: maximal comfortably tolerated | 6MWT (m) Berg Balance Scale (0 to 56) Korean-Modified Barthel Index (0—100) |
Zhang et al. [25] | RCT | n = 66 Age (y) = 56 (11) Time since stroke (days) = 43 (5) Early subacute phase | Exp: cycling using FEST + exercise programs (exercise therapy, physical therapy, and traditional treatment) (30 min + NR) × 6/wk x 8wk Con: cycling with functional electrical stimulation sham + exercise programs (exercise therapy, physical therapy, and traditional treatment) (30 min + NR) × 6/wk x 8wk 4wk and end treatment (8wk)c | Affected leg Muscles: knee flexors and extensors, ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors Frequency: 15 a 50 Hz Pulse width: 200 a 300 µs Current: visible muscle contraction | Modified Barthel index (0 to 100) |