Improve hand recovery with added stimulation.
Research shows that sensory electrical stimulation (SES) can be an effective treatment strategy for improving sensory and motor function. With SES, the main goal is to maximize input by providing stimulation at very low-level (i.e., without producing a muscle contraction). Studies show that providing SES to an impaired nervous system can prime the cortex, ultimately leading to improved neuroplasticity, motor recovery, and function. Improved outcomes are associated with increased excitability of the affected hemisphere. Interventions that focus on re-balancing the communication between both hemispheres are likely to lead to improved recovery. Priming is a technique used to enhance the brain’s ability to re-balance the 2 hemispheres following a stroke. Priming interventions include invasive and non-invasive techniques and can be administered prior to or during therapy.