Effect of Task-Specific Electrical Stimulation on Upper Limb Gross Motor Skills in Children with Spastic Quadriplegia

Abstract

Background: In children who suffer from spastic quadriplegia, difficulties with the upper limbs are one of the main causes of their functional limitations. To aid in motor recovery, task-specific electrical stimulation is being investigated more and more as a supplementary intervention to encourage vigorous, goal-directed movement. Objectives: We want to assess the efficacy of task-specific electrical stimulation on gross motor function of the upper limbs in children suffering from spastic quadriplegia. Methods: The thirty-one kids who suffered from spastic quadriplegia were split into two groups at random. In Group A, participants followed a predetermined physical treatment regimen, whereas in Group B, they also got electrical stimulation tailored to certain tasks. The QUEST's weight-bearing domain includes outcome measures such as elbow and wrist extension range of motion and the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST). Both before and after the intervention, participants filled out assessments, which were then assessed using suitable statistical procedures. Results: Following therapy, both groups demonstrated significant improvements in every outcome (p < 0.05). When it came to the QUEST weight-bearing domain (p = 0.001) and wrist extension range of motion (p < 0.01), Group B had much better results than Group A. On the other hand, after therapy, there was no discernible difference in the range of motion for the elbow's extension between the groups. Conclusion: Children with spastic quadriplegia benefit more from a combination of traditional physical therapy and task-specific electrical stimulation when it comes to improving gross motor function in their upper limbs, especially when it comes to weight-bearing capacity and wrist extension, than from physical therapy alone. The findings lend credence to the idea that this demographic can benefit from rehabilitation programs that include task-specific electrical stimulation.