FES on Improving Foot-Drop Gait in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Review on Technology and Clinical Efficacy

Your PT can determine whether this will change anything in your stroke protocol.
http://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/4b27cbfc562e21b8,forthcoming,7621.html

sukanta sabut
MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology

Sangeeta D Bhattacharya
School of Medical Science & Technology, IIT Kharagpur

Manjunatha Mahadevappa
School of Medical Science & Technology, IIT Kharagpur

ABSTRACT

This review presents the technical developments and clinical applications of functional electrical stimulation (FES) in recovery of gait and motor functions in post-stroke rehabilitation. The method reviewed includes the incidence of stroke, stimulator design, brain-computer interfaces (BCI) based FES system, clinical applications of FES in recovery of gait and motor functions. Developments of different types of foot drop stimulator are reviewed starting with hard-wired and microprocessor-based surface stimulator systems. The replacement of foot switch by the use of artificial and �natural� sensors as the primary control in drop foot stimulators is reviewed. We also evaluated the clinical effects of FES applications in gait, motor control and functional abilities compared to conventional therapy alone during post-stroke rehabilitation. The literature suggests that the FES has a positive therapeutic effect when combined with the conventional rehabilitation program (CRP), on recovery of gait, motor functions, energy cost and functional abilities in subjects with stroke. In conclusion, we recommend that FES could be used as therapy along with the CRP in post-stroke rehabilitation process. Future research would make possible the design of cost effective FES system and the analysis of applications of FES in stroke subjects to optimize the rehabilitation process. We argued the need for rigorous technological development, clinical studies, and collaboration between clinicians and engineers for FES system.