Isolated Versus Synergetic Muscle Facilitation on Upper Limb Functional Performance in Acute Stroke

Effect of Isolated Versus Synergetic Muscle Facilitation on Upper Limb Functional Performance in Patients With Acute Stroke

This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial that will be carried out to investigate the effect of isolated versus synergetic muscle facilitation on upper limb functional performance in patients with acute stroke.

RESEARCH QUESTION:

Is there a difference between isolated and synergetic muscle facilitation on upper limb functional performance in patients with acute stroke?

It will be hypothesized that:

There will be no difference between isolated and synergetic muscle facilitation on upper limb task-oriented training in patients with acute stroke.

Treatment procedures:

Study group (A): patients will receive a physical therapy program in the form of a range of motion exercise, electrical muscle stimulation, stretching exercise, mental practice with motor imagery, and isolated muscle facilitation using electromyography (EMG) biofeedback for six weeks and followed by task-oriented training of the upper limb for six weeks control group (B): will receive a standard physical therapy program including range of motion exercise, electrical muscle stimulation, Mental practice with motor imagery and stretching exercise, synergetic muscle facilitation for six weeks, and followed by task-oriented training of the upper limb for six weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Unilateral Middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke patients
• Brunnstrom stage of recovery 1& 2
• Normal body mass index (18.5 - 24.99 kg/m2)
• Dominant handedness

Exclusion Criteria:

• Perceptual, apraxia, major cognitive deficits
• Recurrent stroke
• Subjects with cerebellar lesions, painful or subluxated shoulder, any contracture or deformity of the upper extremity