Adding transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to visual scanning training does not enhance treatment effect on hemispatial neglect: a randomized, controlled, double-blind study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Left-sided transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) increases right hemispheric activity, which may improve the rehabilitative outcome of hemispatial neglect.

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the behavioral effect of electrical stimulation of the nerve afferents of the left hand during early neuropsychological rehabilitation of post-stroke patients with hemispatial neglect.

METHODS:

This randomized, controlled, double-blind study included 29 patients (enrolled in the experimental or control group) with left hemispatial neglect after right hemispheric stroke. For 3 weeks, patients received 15 therapeutic sessions involving TENS (active or sham) with a mesh glove applied on the entire left hand during the first 30 minutes of a 45-minute conventional visual scanning training (VST). Signs of hemispatial neglect were assessed using a psychometric test before and after treatment.

RESULTS:

Univariate analysis of covariance revealed that differences between the control and experimental groups were not significant after treatment (F(1, 22) = 0.294, P = 0.593) when adjusted for pre-treatment scores and time since stroke onset. This suggested that electrical stimulation failed to mitigate the severity of hemispatial neglect symptoms.

CONCLUSION:

Our study did not provide evidence of the effectiveness of TENS when added to VST during early rehabilitation for patients with post-stroke hemispatial neglect. Other techniques (applied alone or together) should be sought to improve recovery in this population.

• Authors: Joanna Seniów, Katarzyna Polanowska, Marcin Leśniak, Anna Członkowska
• Journal: Topics in stroke rehabilitation (Top Stroke Rehabil) Vol. 23 Issue 6 Pg. 377-383 (12 2016) ISSN: 1945-5119 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26431365 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Aged
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care
• Perceptual Disorders (etiology, therapy)
• Stroke (complications, therapy)
• Stroke Rehabilitation (methods)
• Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (methods)
• Visual Perception (physiology)