Patients' experiences of self-administered electrotherapy for spasticity in stroke and cerebral palsy: A qualitative study

Assessing the Impact of Electrosuit Therapy on Cerebral Palsy: A Study on the Users' Satisfaction and Potential Efficacy

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of electrosuit therapy in the clinical treatment of children with Cerebral Palsy, focusing on the effect of the therapy on spasticity and trunk control. Moreover, the compliance of caregivers with respect to the use of the tool was investigated. During the period ranging from 2019 to 2022, a total of 26 children (18 M and 8 F), clinically stable and affected by CP and attending the Neurorehabilitation Unit of the "Padre Pio Foundation and Rehabilitation Centers", were enrolled in this study. A subset of 12 patients bought or rented the device; thus, they received the administration of the EMS-based therapy for one month, whereas the others received only one-hour training to evaluate the feasibility (by the caregivers) and short-term effects. The Gross Motor Function Classification System was utilized to evaluate gross motor functions and to classify the study sample, while the MAS and the LSS were employed to assess the outcomes of the EMS-based therapy. Moreover, between 80% and 90% of the study sample were satisfied with the safety, ease of use, comfort, adjustment, and after-sales service. Following a single session of electrical stimulation with EMS, patients exhibited a statistically significant enhancement in trunk control. For those who continued this study, the subscale of the QUEST with the best score was adaptability (0.74 ± 0.85), followed by competence (0.67 ± 0.70) and self-esteem (0.59 ± 0.60). This study investigates the impact of the employment of the EMS on CP children's ability to maintain trunk control. Specifically, after undergoing a single EMS session, LSS showed a discernible improvement in children's trunk control. In addition, the QUEST and the PIADS questionnaires demonstrated a good acceptability and satisfaction of the garment by the patients and the caregivers.

Use and Effectiveness of Electrosuit in Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review with Clinical Implications

Electrical stimulation through surface electrodes is a non-invasive therapeutic technique used to improve voluntary motor control and reduce pain and spasticity in patients with central nervous system injuries. The Exopulse Mollii Suit (EMS) is a non-invasive full-body suit with integrated electrodes designed for self-administered electrical stimulation to reduce spasticity and promote flexibility. The EMS has been evaluated in several clinical trials with positive findings, indicating its potential in rehabilitation. This review investigates the effectiveness of the EMS for rehabilitation and its acceptability by patients. The literature was collected through several databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Positive effects of the garment on improving motor functions and reducing spasticity have been shown to be related to the duration of the administration period and to the dosage of the treatment, which, in turn, depend on the individual's condition and the treatment goals. Moreover, patients reported wellbeing during stimulation and a muscle-relaxing effect on the affected limb. Although additional research is required to determine the efficacy of this device, the reviewed literature highlights the EMS potential to improve the motor capabilities of neurological patients in clinical practice.

Acute Effects of a Session with The EXOPULSE Mollii Suit in a Fibromyalgia Patient: A Case Report

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and associated fatigue, sleep disturbances, and other cognitive and somatic symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach including pharmacological therapies along with behavioral therapy, exercise, patient education, and pain management is a possible solution for the treatment of this disease. The EXOPULSE Mollii^® method (EXONEURAL NETWORK AB, Danderyd, Sweden) is an innovative approach for non-invasive and self-administered electrical stimulation with multiple electrodes incorporated in a full-body suit, with already proven benefits for other diseases. Therefore, the present case report study aims to evaluate the effects that a 60 min session with the EXOPULSE Mollii suit has on a female fibromyalgia patient. After the intervention, we can conclude that a 60 min session with the EXOPULSE Mollii suit has beneficial effects on pain perception, muscle oxygenation, parasympathetic modulation, and function in a female fibromyalgia patient.

'A platform for goodness, not for badness': The heuristics of hope in patients' evaluations of online health information

Patient advocates and activists are increasingly relying on online health information that can assist them to manage their health condition. Yet once online, they will confront diverse information whose veracity and utility are difficult to determine. This article offers a sociological analysis of the practical methods, or heuristics, that patient advocates and activists use when making judgements about the credibility and utility of online information. Drawing on the findings from interviews with fifty Australian patient advocates and activists, it is argued that these individuals' use of these heuristics reflects their hopes that information can help them manage their condition which may, in some cases, override fears and uncertainties that arise during searches. The article identifies the common 'rules-of-thumb'-or what we call the 'heuristics of hope'-that patient advocates/activists may use to make judgements and highlights the dangers of over-reliance on them, especially regarding clinically unproven, potentially unsafe treatments. Analyses of the heuristics of hope, we conclude, can assist in understanding the dynamics of decision-making and the role that affect plays in online patient communities which is crucial in an age characterised by the rapid circulation of emotionally charged messages, often based on hope.