ABSTRACTThis study investigated effects of neuromuscular (NMS) and cycle ergometry (CE) on functional abilities of stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria which lasted for 12 weeks. Among the parameters assessed were strength (grip and pinch strength), joints flexibility (range of motion: ROM); that include shoulder, elbow and wrist joints extension while the lower limb include hip extension, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion. The cardio-respiratory indices of the participants investigated were systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation. Stroke survivors were exposed to neuromuscular stimulation and cycle ergometry exercises three times per week on alternate days for duration of 12 weeks. Training intensity was maintained at 35-45%, 50-55% and 60-65% of their target heart rate for 20, 25 and 30 minutes respectively. The research design used for this study was 2x3x 4 factorial design. A population of 40 male and female subjects participated in the study. Consecutive sampling technique was used to place the participants into two groups (NMS and the CE) respectively of which only 25 reached the 12th week of the study. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation for the demographic data and to answer the research questions. Repeated measures analysis of variance and scheffe post-hoc were used to analyze the null hypotheses. Based on the results of this analysis, it was concluded that NMS and CE significantly improved grip and pinch strength among stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria (P < 0.001). The improvement was better in the CE group than in the NMS group (p = 0.000). NMS and CE had significant effect on range of motion of shoulder extension, elbow extension, wrist extension, hip extension, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion among stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria (P < 0.001). NMS and CE caused significant reduction in both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures among stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria (P < 0.001). The improvement was better in the CE group than in the NMS group (p = 0.000). NMS and CE had significant reduction on the pulse rate of stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria (P < 0.001). The improvement was better in the CE group than in the NMS group (p = 0.000). NMS and CE had significantly improved the SPO2 of stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria (P < 0.001). NMS and CE had significantly improved the coordination of stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria (P < 0.001). Based on the findings, it was recommended that Cycle ergometry could be adopted as a mode of training for improving the functional abilities of ix stroke survivors in Kano State, Nigeria. For better improvement in flexibility, both the CE and NMS are recommended as a reliable training protocol in the rehabilitation of stroke patients in Kano State, Nigeria. Training duration for either of the NMS and CE should be continuous for at least a period of 12 weeks for optimum benefits of stroke patients in Kano State, Nigeria.A combination of both NMS and CE training modes are recommended in the rehabilitation of stroke patients in Kano State, Nigeria.
