Analysis of the results of functional electrical stimulation on hemiplegic patients' upper extremities using the Minnesota manual dexterity test.

To study the influence of functional electric stimulation (FES) on grip acquisition and on the change of grip processing speed, 38 hemiplegic patients took part in the rehabilitation program of the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine of the Hospital das Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo. Half of the patients received FES on their wrist and finger extensor muscles. The patients in this study were evaluated initially, then after 3 months and after 6 months using the Minnesota manual dexterity test. We concluded that the time necessary for use of FES to generate a significant improvement in the grip speed in hemiplegic patients is 6 months, using twice-weekly administration of stimulation.