Evidence mapPaperPMID 42350865Full record

ArticleAnnals of biomedical engineering2026

Enhancement of Cerebral Oxygenation by Lower-Limb Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Stroke Survivors.

Anirban Dutta, Yashika Arora, Sandra Leason, Allam Harfoush, Kausik Chatterjee

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial, Phase I
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of biomedical engineering, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06614400 (MonitoRing the Effect of TRAnscutaneous Functional electrIcal Stimulation of the Common Peroneal Nerve on Cerebral Haemodynamics in Patients With Ischaemic Strokes. A Single Centre Prospective Study), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06614400 completednot on this map

MonitoRing the Effect of TRAnscutaneous Functional electrIcal Stimulation of the Common Peroneal Nerve on Cerebral Haemodynamics in Patients With Ischaemic Strokes. A Single Centre Prospective Study (Phase 1).

TypeobservationalSponsorCountess of Chester NHS Foundation TrustRan2024 to 2025Enrolled18ConditionsIschaemic Stroke
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Anirban DuttaDepartment of Metabolism and Systems Science, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. a.dutta.1@bham.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7298-9773
Yashika AroraAll India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Sandra LeasonCountess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, UK.
Allam HarfoushCountess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, UK.
Kausik ChatterjeeCountess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, UK.

Funding

Innovate UK Application No: 10038715
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeStroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability with few non-pharmacological interventions available to enhance cerebral perfusion during recovery. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the common peroneal nerve (CPN) may augment venous return and cardiac output via activation of the skeletal muscle pump and autonomic reflexes thereby supporting cerebral blood flow. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-frequency (1 Hz) CPN-NMES on cortical oxygenation in ischaemic stroke survivors and to mechanistically interpret these effects using cardiovascular computational modelling.

methodsIn the Phase 1 RETRAIN study (NCT06614400), eighteen individuals with ischaemic stroke underwent transcutaneous CPN-NMES delivered at 1 Hz (1 pulse per second) using a wearable device at graded stimulation intensities across three postures (supine, semi-supine, and sitting). Cortical oxygenation was continuously monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). A lumped-parameter cardiovascular model was used to simulate NMES-induced changes in venous return, cardiac output, and systemic haemodynamics. Linear mixed-effects models analysed experimental data, with transcutaneous carbon dioxide included as a covariate to account for cerebrovascular reactivity.

resultsCPN-NMES elicited significant, dose-dependent increases in cortical oxygenation. Effects were amplified in upright postures and in participants with larger infarct volumes (>5 cm). Computational modelling confirmed that 1 Hz CPN-NMES enhances venous return and cardiac output while maintaining haemodynamic stability. Sex-specific cardiovascular adaptations were observed with females demonstrating greater heart rate-mediated responses.

conclusionLow-frequency CPN-NMES enhances cortical oxygenation in stroke survivors through posture-, lesion-, and sex-dependent cardiovascular mechanisms. Wearable CPN-NMES represents a promising, non-invasive adjunct to stroke rehabilitation that warrants further investigation in larger controlled trials.

Indexed as

Cerebrovascular CirculationLower ExtremityOxygenPeroneal NerveStrokeAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOxygenCardiovascular systems modellingCerebral perfusionFunctional near-infrared spectroscopyIschaemic strokeNeuromuscular electrical stimulationRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID42350865
PMCPMC13391698

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.