Optimal Method of Electrical Stimulation for the Treatment of Upper Limb Dysfunction After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: The obstacle of limb motor caused by stroke, especially the decline of motor function of upper limbs, can directly affect the activities of daily living of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Based on long-term clinical practice, the treatment effect of electrical stimulation methods for stroke limb dysfunction has been widely recognized and supported by authoritative guidelines and systematic reviews. However, which electrical stimulation method is the optimum in the treatment of stroke limb dysfunction is still a controversial issue. Objective: In this paper, we adopted Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) to rank the priorities of various electrical stimulation methods, so as to select the optimal electrical stimulation method and discuss its rationality in guiding clinical practice. Methods: We carried out a systematic review by searching a total of 6806 studies from 8 databases and 2 clinical trial registries, and finally screened out 34 studies for further investigation. Then, pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis were employed to evaluate the effectiveness and ranking of various interventions. The primary outcome measure was Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), and the secondary outcome measures were Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Finally, the risk of bias, publication bias and sensitivity of the Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were evaluated. Results: On the basis of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment (RT), the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) was superior than other electrical stimulation methods in improving both FMA-UE and MBI. Meanwhile, the results indicated that the Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) was the only electrical stimulation method that showed treatment advantages in reducing MAS. Conclusion: The study showed that FES had the optimal overall rehabilitation effect on upper limb dysfunction of stroke patients based on the comprehensive RT, while the treatment effect of TEAS on upper limb spasticity after stroke was the most significant.