The effects of electromyographically triggered electric muscle stimulation on extensor digitorum communis were evaluated in 10 hemiplegic patients whose onset of hemiplegia was longer than 6 months. All patients had been treated with conventional physical therapy and they show no further improvements in motor function.
Patients were asked to extend MP joints as much as possible. At the same time, the EMG signals from extensor digitorum communis were displayed on the screen. When the amplitudes of singnals reached near to their maximum, electrical stimulation on the muscle was done for 2 seconds with preset mode. Of 10 patients, 3 patients show remakable imporvements in quantitative EMG value and active extension and 1 patient show improvements in action MP extension.
