Stroke survivors showed improved hand dexterity more when using a new electrical stimulation therapy compared to an existing stimulation technique, said researchers from the MetroHealth System, Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation Center and the Case Western Reserve University.
Every year, some 800,000 individuals experience strokes in the U.S. The medical condition is characterized by reduced blood flow to the brain and usually results in paralysis or partial paralysis on one side of the body, making it difficult for survivors to open a hand. To address this, low-level electric currents are applied to the affected hand to stimulate paralyzed muscles, with intensity, repetitions and timing set by therapists.
