A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 24 studies with a total of 888 subjects. The majority of trials used electrostimulation delivered by external electrodes which produced or enhanced contraction of paretic muscle. There were some improvement in muscle function tests and motor reaction times in favour of electrostimulation compared to no treatment or placebo. Electrostimulation was found to be acceptable to participants (few withdrawals). When compared to conventional therapy, no significant differences were found between groups for normality of movement, functional motor ability or global ADL.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and by limitations in study quality. Most positive results were obtained only from single trials. Selection bias (because of problems in random allocation and allocation concealment) could have been present in the majority of trials.
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