1 Introduction
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Participants
2.2 Study Protocol
2.3 Interventions
2.4 Outcome Measures
2.5 Analysis
3 Results
TENS | SBS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pre-intervention | post-intervention | p value | pre-intervention | post-intervention | p value | |
Spasticity NRS | 5 (4,6) | 4 (4,6) | 0.072 * | 5 (5,6.5) | 6 (4,7) | 0.748 * |
ARAT | 28 (3,39) | 28 (1,46) | 0.102 * | 36 (4,45) | 33 (3,50) | 0.504 * |
LASIS | 1.2 + 0.2 | 0.9 + 0.2 | 0.010† | 1.2 + 0.2 | 1.2 + 0.2 | 0.915† |
MAS | 1.5 (1.5,2.0) | 1.5 (1.5,2.0) | 1.000 * | 2.0 (1.5,2.0) | 1.5 (1.0,2.0) | 0.131 * |
MRC grade (Elbow extension) | 3 (2,4) | 3 (2,4) | 0.655 * | 3 (2,4) | 3 (2,4) | 1.000 * |
MRC grade (Elbow Flexion) | 3 (2,4) | 3 (3,4) | 0.257 * | 4 (2,4) | 3 (2,4) | 0.414 * |
Questions | Answer | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | No | N/A | Comments | |
1. Is the ARAT an appropriate test to assess the functioning of your arm? | 12 | 2 | – | 1. Because of no hand function on right side due to tone, cannot complete test. 2. It’s far too hard. Frustrating for the stage I am at. |
2. Is the Leeds Spasticity Impact Scale an appropriate questionnaire to assess the spasticity of your arm? | 14 | – | – | |
4. Is TENS an appropriate treatment for you? | 12 | 1 | 1 | |
5. Is SBS an appropriate treatment for you? | 11 | 2 | 1 | |
`6. Do you have any preferences between TENS and SBS? - 8 participants choose TENS - 6 participants choose SBS | 14 | – | – | |
What are the reasons behind your choice? | ||||
- Effectiveness of the treatment | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1. Familiar 2. TENS-occasionally noticed ongoing tingling of forearm after use for an hour but not uncomfortable |
- Nature of the sensation | 8 | 4 | 3 | |
- Ease of administration | 8 | 5 | 1 | |
- Side effects | - | 11 | 3 | |
- Others | 2 | 3 | 9 | |
7. Do you have any concerns about this study? | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1. Not specified 2. Number of visits and home visit acceptable |
8. Will you consider participating in future research using TENS or SBS? | 12 | – | 2 | |
9. Have you any suggestions to improve the design of future studies using TENS and SBS? | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1. Design of application of SBS for ease of use 2. Ease of use for SBS, number of visits to be reduced for convenience 3. Having the times on SBS would help as it’s easy to forget to set the separate times 4. To make easier to apply on own (need 2 hands to apply) 5. Small cuff 6. SBS hard to get on by self. Better if it was something you could pull on 7. We should look at shoulder. This study looked at elbow. 8. Better way of marking arm for correct position of pads |
10. Any other comments? | 4 | – | 10 | 1. Further study with longer duration of each intervention period. 2. Enjoyed taking part. Feel left arm is not as tight. Increased use of Lt. arm in activity of daily living. 3. SBS more convenient to use. 4. SBS helped with moving left fingers on their own. |