The problems of neuromuscular electrostimulation in patients affected by central or peripheral nervous system chronic lesions have been analysed during an interdisciplinary meeting held in Pavia on Dec. 9, 1978, and evolved to the discussion of two previous workshops concerning the same topic. The effective value of functional electrical stimulation, especially for the lower limbs, seems to be proved in some patients with upper motor neuron lesions. However, a clear definition of patient selection criteria has not been given yet, while a comparison with the results with vibratory techniques is still to be carried out. With regard to the so-called electrotherapy of denervated muscles, it has been stressed that the trophic state can also be promoted by vibratory mechanical stimulation, while the electrical stimulation could partly reduce the diffuse type of membrane excitability present in the devervated muscle fibres; this effect might interfere negatively with the process of collateral nerve sprouting.
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