Effects of somatosensory stimulation on motor function after subacute stroke.

Background: Previous works showed potentially beneficial effects of a single session of peripheral nerve sensory stimulation (PSS) on motor function of a paretic hand in patients with subacute and chronic stroke.

Objective: To investigate the influence of the use of different stimulus intensities over multiple sessions (repetitive PSS [RPSS]) paired with motor training.

Methods: To address this question, 22 patients were randomized within the second month after a single hemispheric stroke in a parallel design to application of 2-hour RPSS at 1 of 2 stimulus intensities immediately preceding motor training, 3 times a week, for 1 month.