Electrical stimulation therapy for peripheral nerve injury

Lingmei Ni; Zhao Yao; Yifan Zhao; Tianfang Zhang; Jie Wang; Siyue Li; Zuobing Chen

doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1081458

journal article Open Access Feb 24, 2023

Electrical stimulation therapy for peripheral nerve injury

Lingmei Ni Zhao Yao Yifan Zhao

Tianfang Zhang

Jie Wang

Siyue Li

Zuobing Chen

Frontiers in Neurology Vol. 14 · Frontiers Media SA

View at Publisher Save 10.3389/fneur.2023.1081458

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injury is common and frequently occurs in extremity trauma patients. The motor and sensory impairment caused by the injury will affect patients' daily life and social work. Surgical therapeutic approaches don't assure functional recovery, which may lead to neuronal atrophy and hinder accelerated regeneration. Rehabilitation is a necessary stage for patients to recover better. A meaningful role in non-pharmacological intervention is played by rehabilitation, through individualized electrical stimulation therapy. Clinical studies have shown that electrical stimulation enhances axon growth during nerve repair and accelerates sensorimotor recovery. According to different effects and parameters, electrical stimulation can be divided into neuromuscular, transcutaneous, and functional electrical stimulation. The therapeutic mechanism of electrical stimulation may be to reduce muscle atrophy and promote muscle reinnervation by increasing the expression of structural protective proteins and neurotrophic factors. Meanwhile, it can modulate sensory feedback and reduce neuralgia by inhibiting the descending pathway. However, there are not many summary clinical application parameters of electrical stimulation, and the long-term effectiveness and safety also need to be further explored. This article aims to explore application methodologies for effective electrical stimulation in the rehabilitation of peripheral nerve injury, with simultaneous consideration for fundamental principles of electrical stimulation and the latest technology. The highlight of this paper is to identify the most appropriate stimulation parameters (frequency, intensity, duration) to achieve efficacious electrical stimulation in the rehabilitation of peripheral nerve injury.

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Details

Published: Feb 24, 2023
Vol/Issue: 14
License: View

Authors

Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)

J

Jie Wang

China National GeneBank, Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)–Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.; BGI Education Center,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Shenzhen, 518083, China.

Cite This Article

Lingmei Ni, Zhao Yao, Yifan Zhao, et al. (2023). Electrical stimulation therapy for peripheral nerve injury. Frontiers in Neurology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1081458

Electrical stimulation therapy for peripheral nerve injury

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