• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed as follows in order to investigate the effect of presynaptic inhibition mechanism using the transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) for global synkinesis (GS) on the post-stroke hemiplegic patients. Methods : The subjects consist of 38 post stroke hemiplegic patients; experiments were performed on thirty patients excluding eight. The experiment was performed on sham group, sensory level stimulation group, and motor level stimulation group for 20 minutes a day 5 times a week for 6 weeks total. We compared the differences in GS levels and walking ability. The measurements were carried out pre, immediated, post 10th, and 20th, for a total of four measurements. Results : The GS level using sEMG found significant differences between groups at the post 10th and post 20th in dorsiflexion, and post 20th in plantarflexion (p<0.05, p<0.01). The motor level group indicated more significant differences when the number of electrical stimulations increased. TUG and 10 m walking test indicated a significant difference at immediated, post 10th, and post 20th. The motor level group showed more significant decreasing tendency than the sensory level group. Conclusion: From these results, electrical stimulation using presynaptic inhibition mechanism of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) had positive effects for walking ability on inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity. The motor level stimulation group experienced a more significant effect than the sensory level stimulation group. Therefore, the transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) is considered to be effective on walking ability increasing through inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity for rehabilitation of post stroke hemiplegic patients.