PURPOSE Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a nonpharmacological method used to reduce spasticity. It was also assumed that TENS reduces pain and therefore improves limb function. Most of the previous studies about the effect of TENS were done in the lower limb and in stroke patients. There is a lack of enough literature about the direct and indirect effects of TENS in the upper limb. Hence, our study aimed to determine whether TENS combined with therapeutic exercises helps to improves hand function by reducing spasticity in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-nine children with hemiplegic CP were randomly assigned to the TENS group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 14). The TENS group received traditional physical therapy with the adjunct application of conventional TENS for 30 minutes (pulse duration, 250 µs; pulse rate, 100 Hz) on the wrist extensors, once daily, 3 days a week, for 8 weeks, while the control group received traditional physical therapy. RESULTS The results showed a significant intergroup difference in handgrip strength over the 8-week period. The time to accomplish the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) task decreased by 48% and the ABILHAND-Kids questionnaire scores improved by 23% in the TENS group. CONCLUSIONS The use of TENS in combination with therapeutic exercise may improve strength and hand function.

中文翻译：

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偏瘫性脑瘫患儿经皮神经电刺激结合手部功能锻炼的疗效。

目的经皮电神经刺激（TENS）是一种用于减少痉挛的非药理方法。还假定TENS减轻了疼痛，因此改善了肢体功能。以前有关TENS疗效的大多数研究都是在下肢和中风患者中进行的。关于TENS对上肢的直接和间接作用，缺乏足够的文献。因此，我们的研究旨在确定TENS结合治疗性锻炼是否可通过减少偏瘫性脑瘫（CP）儿童的痉挛来帮助改善手部功能。材料与方法将29例偏瘫CP儿童随机分为TENS组（n = 15）或对照组（n = 14）。TENS组接受传统物理疗法，并在腕部伸肌上辅助应用常规TENS 30分钟（脉冲持续时间250 µs；脉冲频率100 Hz），每天一次，每周3天，共8周，而对照组该组接受了传统的物理疗法。结果结果表明，在8周的时间内，手握强度之间存在显着的组间差异。在TENS组中，完成捷成泰勒手功能测试（JTHFT）任务的时间减少了48％，ABILHAND-Kids问卷的得分提高了23％。结论将TENS与治疗性运动结合使用可改善力量和手部功能。结果结果表明，在8周的时间内，手握力之间存在显着的组间差异。在TENS组中，完成捷成泰勒手功能测试（JTHFT）任务的时间减少了48％，ABILHAND-Kids问卷的得分提高了23％。结论将TENS与治疗性运动结合使用可改善力量和手部功能。结果结果表明，在8周的时间内，手握力之间存在显着的组间差异。在TENS组中，完成捷成泰勒手功能测试（JTHFT）任务的时间减少了48％，ABILHAND-Kids问卷的得分提高了23％。结论将TENS与治疗性运动结合使用可改善力量和手部功能。