This study is designed to answer the question of whether adjuvant EMG-triggered electrical muscle stimulation can improve the outcome of conventional rehabilitation following a stroke. In addition to the general rehabilitation program, group I (n = 14, study group) received EMG-triggered electrical muscle stimulation of the paretic hand and upper arm extensors, the ankle extensors and the knee flexors 5 times a week for 4 weeks. The randomly selected group II (n = 14, control group) received the general rehabilitation program alone. Pre- and post-treatment evaluation of all patients consisted of clinical examinations of their spasticity score and active range of motion, of pendulum tests of the motility of their elbow- and knee joints, and of classifying their independence in their daily acitities by Barthel Index. Both therapeutic modalities resulted in significant improvements (p < 0.05) except for the control group's spasticity score in the upper limb. The results of the study group were significantly better regarding range of motion of hand and ankle extensors (p = 0.0097; p = 0.0108). The study group's results in evaluated spasticity scores, motility parameters, and Barthel Index were superior to those of the control group, but the difference was not significant. Neurophysiologically, it is assumed that frequent repetition of movements that are voluntarily initiated and completed with the support of electrical muscle stimulation may support mechanisms for the plastic reorganisation of the brain. Further investigations are needed to optimize the therapeutic potential of this adjuvant treatment procedure.

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