Efficacy of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on Lower Limb Mobility and Activities of Daily Living in Post-Stroke Patients

Objective: To assess the therapeutic efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in improving lower limb function and daily activities in post-stroke patients. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from database inception to April 20, 2025. Meta-analysis for continuous outcomes was performed using the inverse variance method under fixed- or random-effects models according to heterogeneity. Results: Ten studies (579 patients) were included. NMES significantly improved Fugl-Meyer Assessment (MD=3.40, P =0.001), ankle dorsiflexion ROM (MD=1.56, P =0.04), TUG (MD=-1.96, P =0.03), BBS (MD=10.78, P =0.005), PASS (MD=5.05, P <0.00001), and MBI (MD=13.29, P =0.02). Sensitivity analysis confirmed result robustness. Conclusion: NMES effectively enhances motor function and activities of daily living in post-stroke patients, and may complement standard rehabilitation.