Table 3 Means, standard deviations, mean differences, confidence intervals and effect sizes of the variables related to the hand strength and the EMG activity in all the time points.
Measure | Control group (n = 20) | 35 Hz NMES (n = 21) | 50 Hz NMES (n = 20) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strength (kgf) | Testing time | Mean (SD) | MD (CI 95%) | ES (d) | Mean (SD) | MD (CI 95%) | ES (d) | Mean (SD) | MD (CI 95%) | ES (d) |
Grip strength | Baseline | 4.80 (6.30) | 5.83 (4.70) | 3.81 (3.01) | ||||||
1-month | 5.35 (7.05) | − 0.55 (− 1.66, 0.56) | − 0.08 | 7.00 (4.92) | − 1.16 (− 2.25, − 0.07)* | − 0.25 | 4.71 (3.31) | − 0.90 (− 2.01, 0.21) | − 0.29 | |
2-months | 5.34 (6.31) | − 0.53 (− 1.67, 0.59) | − 0.08 | 7.71 (5.08) | − 1.88 (− 2.99, − 0.77)* | − 0.40 | 6.09 (3.37) | − 2.27 (− 3.41, − 1.13)* | − 0.73 | |
Follow-up | 5.95 (7.15) | − 1.15 (− 2.38, 0.08) | − 0.17 | 8.52 (5.06) | − 2.69 (− 3.89, − 1.48)* | − 0.56 | 6.24 (3.68) | − 2.42 (− 3.66, − 1.18)* | − 0.74 | |
Pinch strength | Baseline | 2.09 (2.39) | 2.44 (2.12) | 1.67 (1.55) | ||||||
1-month | 2.31 (2.40) | − 0.22 (− 0.64, 0.19) | − 0.09 | 3.02 (2.04) | − 0.58 (− 0.99, − 0.17)* | − 0.28 | 2.36 (1.84) | − 0.69 (− 1.11, − 0.27)* | − 0.41 | |
2-months | 2.69 (2.49) | − 0.60 (− 1.16, − 0.03)* | − 0.25 | 3.13 (1.97) | − 0.69 (− 1.24, − 0.13)* | − 0.34 | 2.71 (1.58) | − 1.05 (− 1.61, − 0.48)* | − 0.68 | |
Follow-up | 2.39 (2.07) | − 0.30 (− 0.92, 0.32) | − 0.13 | 3.37 (2.01) | − 0.92 (− 1.53, − 0.32)* | − 0.46 | 2.96 (1.98) | − 1.29 (− 1.91, − 0.67)* | − 0.74 | |
EMG activity | Testing time | Mean (SD) | MD (CI 95%) | ES (d) | Mean (SD) | MD (CI 95%) | ES (d) | Mean (SD) | MD (CI 95%) | ES (d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peak A extensors (µV) | Baseline | 89.95 (112.86) | 73.24 (42.40) | 62.75 (52.77) | ||||||
1-month | 95.45 (105.88) | − 5.50 (− 16.60, 5.60) | − 0.05 | 102.62 (40.22) | − 29.38 (− 40.22, − 18.54)* | − 0.73 | 73.85 (55.49) | − 11.10 (− 22.20, 0.00) | − 0.21 | |
2-months | 97.50 (104.31) | − 7.55 (− 22.41, 7.31) | − 0.07 | 116.52 (55.81) | − 43.28 (− 57.79, − 28.78)* | − 0.89 | 84.45 (51.09) | − 21.70 (− 36.56, − 6.83)* | − 0.43 | |
Follow-up | 92.25 (103.84) | − 2.30 (− 20.60, 16.00) | − 0.02 | 130.48 (58.56) | − 57.23 (− 75.10, − 39.37)* | − 1.14 | 101.60 (87.80) | − 38.85 (− 57.15, − 20.54)* | − 0.55 | |
ACR extensors (%) | Baseline | 42.35 (12.05) | 39.70 (12.65) | 45.25 (12.52) | ||||||
1-month | 43.71 (8.67) | − 1.36 (− 7.54, 4.80) | − 0.13 | 33.89 (10.84) | 5.80 (− 0.21, 11.82) | 0.50 | 41.64 (9.49) | 3.60 (− 2.56, 9.77) | 0.33 | |
2-months | 42.28 (9.54) | 0.06 (− 5.52, 5.65) | 0.00 | 30.86 (10.69) | 8.83 (3.37, 14.29)* | 0.77 | 35.07 (7.17) | 10.18 (4.59, 15.77)* | 1.02 | |
Follow-up | 40.90 (10.58) | 1.44 (− 4.27, 7.16) | 0.13 | 31.12 (10.62) | 8.58 (2.99, 14.16)* | 0.75 | 34.90 (8.63) | 10.34 (4.62, 16.06)* | 0.98 |
