Effectiveness of a rehabilitation program involving functional proprioceptive stimulation for postural control and motor recovery among stroke patients: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial

Didn't your competent? doctor create a protocol on focal muscle vibration years ago? OH, you DON'T have a functioning stroke doctor, do you? Which means your board of directors is completely incompetent also! I'd fire everyone and reconstitute the hospital! I take no prisoners in getting stroke solved and will run over supposedly smart people in the process!

focal muscle vibration (9 posts to May 2020)

Effectiveness of a rehabilitation program involving functional proprioceptive stimulation for postural control and motor recovery among stroke patients: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial

• Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej,
• Justyna Leszczak,
• Justyna Brożonowicz,
• Gabriela Ciąpała,
• Héctor Hernández-Lázaro &
• Agnieszka Sozańska 

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation volume 22, Article number: 147 (2025) Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

Early and intensive rehabilitation is particularly important for increasing neuroplasticity in patients after stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 4-week rehabilitation program involving functional proprioceptive stimulation (FPS) on postural control and functional recovery in patients with stroke.

Methods

This double-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at a tertiary care rehabilitation centre. Fifty patients with first stroke were recruited and randomly separated into a FPS Group (n = 25) or Sham Group (n = 25). Both groups underwent 3.5 h of rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, verticalization and focal vibration on specific myotendinous junctions of the leg, for 5 days a week over 4 successive weeks. For the sham group, the focal vibrations had an amplitude of 0.1 mm with a fixed frequency of 40 Hz. For the FPS group, the stimulation consisted of focal vibrations of an amplitude of 2 mm with frequencies constantly changing between 40 and 85 Hz. Postural control evaluation was performed with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT) and via the Alfa AC International East stabilometric platform; motor recovery was examined via the Barthel Index (BI) and ICF Rehabilitation Set. All assessments were performed at baseline and after intervention.

Results

Following the intervention, the FPS Group demonstrated clinically significant improvements in postural control and functional status (BBS p = 0.041 and BI p = 0.037). A statistically significant improvement was also obtained in the Sham Group in the FTR test. Patients in the FPS Group experienced significantly greater improvement than those in the Sham Group on D420 (transferring oneself) and D640 (performing housework activities).

Conclusions

Our study showed that conventional rehabilitation and rehabilitation combined with functional proprioceptive stimulation both improve balance and functional efficiency in people after.

Trial registration

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05550987).

Introduction

Stroke is a leading neurological disorder, affecting 15 million people globally each year a number expected to rise [1]. Poststroke disability is also increasing [2], with over 85% of survivors experiencing hemiplegia within 6–12 months, impairing mobility and independence [3]. Intensive rehabilitation during the acute phase of stroke can enhance spontaneous recovery [4] and actively stimulate neuroplasticity [5,6,7], thereby promoting more effective functional restoration. Optimal recovery, however, depends on a comprehensive assessment that integrates multiple dimensions of the patient’s condition including physical, psychological, environmental, social, and personal factors guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.

The process of neuroplasticity involves molecular and cellular mechanisms that are responsible for the reconstruction of damaged neuronal networks [8]. This form of poststroke recovery involves axonal sprouting, tumorisation and strengthening of synapses, as well as compensatory mechanisms to restore lost functions [9]. The aim of early and intensive rehabilitation is to increase neuroplasticity in order to achieve better functional results [7]. Although several non-pharmacological methods are available to enhance the effects of therapy, such as electrotherapy, shockwave therapy, neuromodulation and stretching, evidence of their effectiveness is limited [10].

A promising and emerging method involves applying focal vibration near the muscle-tendon junction to elicit a kinaesthetic sensation of movement [11]. This type of stimulation is called functional proprioceptive stimulation (FPS). FPS activates muscle spindles, i.e., stretches receptors that signal changes in muscle length [12]. FPS at frequencies between 20 and 100 Hz induces a sensation of muscle stretching and causes the perception of movement [13]. It also increases the excitability of the sensorimotor cortex [14].

According to recent scientific reports, FPS has been shown to be safe, well tolerated, and easy to use. It can be an important complementary therapy for promoting motor recovery in patients who have recently had a stroke [15]. Wang et al. reported that vibration therapy effectively improves upper limb motor function in patients with subacute stroke. The effectiveness of sensory pathways is increased by the underlying mechanism of vibration, which reorganises and induces plastic changes in the motor and somatosensory cortex [16].

There is no consensus in the literature on the most effective rehabilitation protocol for improving the condition of poststroke patients. According to a review by Wang et al., further research is required to determine the optimal vibration parameters and dosage for FPS protocols in post-stroke patients [17].(Well fuck, write a provisional protocol on this you blithering idiots! So, we don't have repeated useless research on this done again!) Modern rehabilitation should incorporate both traditional methods and innovative technological solutions [18]. Therefore, it is crucial for specialists in clinical practice to identify the most effective rehabilitation method for helping poststroke patients regain lost function. Accordingly, the purpose of Dour study was to evaluate the effects of rehabilitati

on via functional proprioceptive stimulation, on top of conventional therapy, on postural control and functional performance in poststroke patients.

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