Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review

To examine the effects of combining non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on upper limb function in patients with a stroke.

Of 580 articles, five studies met the eligibility criteria, involving 226 patients (mean age = 58.73 years), 45% of whom were female. Three studies considered "good" quality, one exhibited "excellent" quality, and one considered "poor" quality on the PEDro scale. There is heterogeneous evidence regarding the effects of the combined NIBS and NMES intervention on upper limb function in patients with a stroke.

The combination of NIBS with NMES might be a safe and well-tolerated intervention for patients with a stroke. However, the initial findings indicate that evidence regarding the effects of the combined NIBS and NMES intervention on upper limb function poststroke was limited. Further studies are strongly needed to understand the effects of the combined NIBS and NMES on upper limb outcomes and to identify the optimal treatment parameters.