Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-stroke

Upper limb impairment occurs in approximately 80% of stroke survivors, with altered scapular kinematics playing a key role in dysfunction. Serratus anterior weakness post-stroke contributes to abnormal scapular motion, limiting shoulder and arm function. This study explored whether Electrical Stimu...

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Main Authors: Palak Anand Kakwani, Ramesh Debur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2025-08-01
Series:European Journal of Translational Myology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.pagepressjournals.org/bam/article/view/14082
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author Palak Anand Kakwani
Ramesh Debur
author_facet Palak Anand Kakwani
Ramesh Debur
author_sort Palak Anand Kakwani
collection DOAJ
description Upper limb impairment occurs in approximately 80% of stroke survivors, with altered scapular kinematics playing a key role in dysfunction. Serratus anterior weakness post-stroke contributes to abnormal scapular motion, limiting shoulder and arm function. This study explored whether Electrical Stimulation (ES) could immediately enhance serratus anterior activity in individuals with post-stroke hemiplegia. A pre-post intervention design was used involving 19 individuals within three months post-stroke. Surface Electromyography (sEMG) recorded serratus anterior activity during a forward reach task. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was also administered. Participants received 20 minutes of ES targeting the serratus anterior, after which sEMG and FMA were reassessed. Wilcoxon signed rank test compared pre- and post-intervention sEMG values. Statistical analysis showed a significant change in the area under the curve value(p < 0.01) but no significant change in RMS value. There was no change in FMA scale. Electrical stimulation showed significant changes in the muscle activity of the serratus anterior, indicating a reduction in the cost of the muscle work done during the forward reach task.
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spelling doaj-art-2acf33996c7947cba814cbd00a555d3f2025-08-23T13:23:38ZengPAGEPress PublicationsEuropean Journal of Translational Myology2037-74522037-74602025-08-0110.4081/ejtm.2025.14082Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-strokePalak Anand Kakwani0Ramesh Debur1Biofeedback Lab, M.S. Ramaiah College of Physiotherapy, BengaluruBiofeedback Lab, M.S. Ramaiah College of Physiotherapy, Bengaluru Upper limb impairment occurs in approximately 80% of stroke survivors, with altered scapular kinematics playing a key role in dysfunction. Serratus anterior weakness post-stroke contributes to abnormal scapular motion, limiting shoulder and arm function. This study explored whether Electrical Stimulation (ES) could immediately enhance serratus anterior activity in individuals with post-stroke hemiplegia. A pre-post intervention design was used involving 19 individuals within three months post-stroke. Surface Electromyography (sEMG) recorded serratus anterior activity during a forward reach task. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was also administered. Participants received 20 minutes of ES targeting the serratus anterior, after which sEMG and FMA were reassessed. Wilcoxon signed rank test compared pre- and post-intervention sEMG values. Statistical analysis showed a significant change in the area under the curve value(p < 0.01) but no significant change in RMS value. There was no change in FMA scale. Electrical stimulation showed significant changes in the muscle activity of the serratus anterior, indicating a reduction in the cost of the muscle work done during the forward reach task. https://www.pagepressjournals.org/bam/article/view/14082Strokeserratus anteriorelectrical stimulationsurface electromyography
spellingShingle Palak Anand Kakwani
Ramesh Debur
Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-stroke
European Journal of Translational Myology
Stroke
serratus anterior
electrical stimulation
surface electromyography
title Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-stroke
title_full Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-stroke
title_fullStr Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-stroke
title_full_unstemmed Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-stroke
title_short Immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post-stroke
title_sort immediate effects of electrical stimulation on serratus anterior muscle activity in people with hemiplegia post stroke
topic Stroke
serratus anterior
electrical stimulation
surface electromyography
url https://www.pagepressjournals.org/bam/article/view/14082
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