Effects of simultaneous use of m-NMES and language training on brain functional connectivity in stroke patients with aphasia: A randomized controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION: The m-NMES had been demonstrated to redistribute brain resources and induce plastic changes in the stroke patients. However, the physiological mechanism and clinical efficacy of m-NMES combination with existing clinical rehabilitation programs remains unclear in patients with aphasia after stroke. This study aimed to investigate the effects of simultaneous use of m-NMES and language training (m-NMES-LT) with on cerebral oscillations and brain connection, as well as the effect on clinical efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 21 right–handed adult patients with aphasia were randomly assigned to language training (LT) group and m-NMES-LT group, and tissue concentration of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin oscillations were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy in resting and treatment state during three consecutive weeks. Five characteristic frequency signals (I, 0.6–2 Hz; II, 0.145–0.6 Hz; III, 0.052–0.145 Hz; IV, 0.021–0.052 Hz; and V, 0.0095–0.021 Hz) were identified using the wavelet method. The wavelet amplitude (WA) and wavelet phase coherence (WPCO) were calculated to describe the frequency-specific cortical activities. RESULTS: The m-NMES-LT induced significantly higher WA values in contralesional PFC in intervals I, II, and V, and ipsilesional MC in intervals I-V than the resting state. The WPCO values between ipsilesional PFC-MC in interval III-IV, and between bilateral MC in interval III-IV were significantly higher than resting state. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between WPCO and Western Aphasia Battery in m-NMES-LT group. CONCLUSION: The language training combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on median nerve could improve and achieve higher clinical efficacy for aphasia. This is attributed to the m-NMES-LT could enhance cortical activation and brain functional connectivity in patients with aphasia, which was derived from myogenic, neurogenic, and endothelial cell metabolic activities.