Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40520620›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2025

The effectiveness of low-frequency electrical stimulation in treating hemiplegic shoulder pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tao Qin, Tiantian Hu, Yuzhuo Dan, Cheng Qiu, Mei Chen, Fanjing Kong, Sha Huang, Zhenwei Zhai, Ying Xu, Tao Sun

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Tao Qin *Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Tiantian Hu *Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Yuzhuo DanHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Cheng QiuHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Mei ChenDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Sichuan, Chengdu, China.
Fanjing KongSchool of Intelligent Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Sha HuangSchool of Intelligent Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Zhenwei ZhaiThe Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Ying XuHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Tao SunSchool of Intelligent Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To clarify the effectiveness of Low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) in treating Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP), identify the therapeutic effects of different treatment parameters, and provide evidence-based recommendations. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal Database up to October 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LFES with comparable single rehabilitation interventions, placebo/sham treatments, or conventional rehabilitation were included. The included outcomes were pain intensity and motor function in the upper extremities. The systematic review protocol is available on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration number: CRD42023493979). Results: A total of eight studies (341 participants) were included. LFES showed significant therapeutic effects on shoulder pain scores (SMD = -0.68; 95% CI: [-1.18, -0.18], Conclusion: The meta-analysis results indicate that LFES has significant positive effects on alleviating HSP, but its effect on improving motor function requires cautious interpretation due to potential bias. Systematic review registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), identifier: CRD42023493979.

Indexed as

hemiplegic shoulder painlow-frequency electrical stimulationmeta-analysisstrokesystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40520620
PMCPMC12162256

What OpenQuestion holds

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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 OpenQuestion graph.