Background: Stroke patients have dosiflexor weakness. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) for motor and sensory threshold stimulation has been applied to patients with stroke.
Objectives: To investigate effects of FES intervention for motor and sensory threshold on balance and gait in subacute patients with stroke.
Design: A randomized controlled trial.
Methods: In all, 34 patients with subacute stroke were recruited and randomly assigned to the motor threshold (MTG, n=17) and sensory threshold group (STG, n=17). The measured variables were static balance (BioRescue), dynamic balance (BBS), and gait (TUG test). The study period was 5 weeks, twice a day, 5 days a week.
Results: There was a significant difference in all variables except the speed variable (open eye Romberg test) after the intervention; MTG improved more significantly except for the speed variable of the Romberg test (open eye). BBS score increased significantly only in the MTG group after the intervention, and the increase was more significant in the MTG group than in the STG group. The TUG test significantly decreased in both groups after the intervention, and the decrease was more significant in the MTG group than in the STG group.
Conclusion: FES for motor threshold applied to patients with subacute stroke appears to be more effective in improving balance and gait ability than FES for sensory threshold.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
    Subjects
    Outcome measures
    Data and Statistical Analysis
RESULTS
    General characteristics of the subjects
    Changes in the foot pressure ratio on the pareticside based on the FES of motor or sensory threshold
    Changes in the Romberg test with open eyes basedon the FES of motor or sensory threshold
    Changes in the Romberg test with closed eyesbased on the FES of motor or sensory threshold
    Changes in the BBS and TUG test based on the FESof motor or sensory threshold
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

• Dohyung Kim(Office of External Affairs & Public Relations, Gachon University)
• Hojung An(Department of Physical Therapy, Dongnam Health University)
• Wansuk Choi(Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Korea)
• Shinjun Park(Department of Physical Therapy, Suwon Women’s University)
• Soonhee Kim(Department of Physical Therapy, Yongin University) Correspondence