Comparison of Motor Relearning Program and Electric Muscle Stimulation in Subacute Stroke Patients

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide, with upper limb motor impairment being a common consequence that limits independence in activities of daily living. The Motor Relearning Program (MRP) is a task-oriented rehabilitation approach designed to improve motor recovery through repetitive functional practice. Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) may further enhance muscle activation and facilitate motor recovery when combined with conventional rehabilitation. The purpose of this single-blinded randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of the Motor Relearning Program combined with Electrical Muscle Stimulation versus the Motor Relearning Program alone in improving upper limb function in individuals with subacute stroke. Thirty-six eligible participants with subacute stroke will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive MRP together with EMS, while Group B will receive the same MRP without EMS. Both groups will undergo treatment for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Upper limb motor recovery and muscle tone will be evaluated at baseline and after the intervention using the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UEFMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and Motor Evaluation Scale for Upper Extremity in Stroke (MESUPES). The findings of this study may help determine whether adding EMS to a structured Motor Relearning Program provides greater improvements in upper limb function than MRP alone in individuals with subacute stroke.