Researchers Find Benefit for Foot Drop Stimulator in Rehabilitation After Stroke

Is there anything about stroke rehab that actually works?
http://dgnews.docguide.com/researchers-find-benefit-foot-drop-stimulator-rehabilitation-after-stroke?
Use of a foot drop stimulator during a task-specific movement for 4 weeks can retrain the neuromuscular system after a stroke, according to a study published in the journal NeuroRehabilitation.
This finding indicates that applying the foot drop stimulator as rehabilitation intervention may facilitate recovery from this common complication of stroke.
Foot drop, a common sequela of hemiplegia caused by stroke, decreases mobility and limits activities of daily living.
“Compensatory strategies have a negative effect on gait pattern,” said Karen J. Nolan, PhD, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey. “While use of an ankle-foot orthosis can improve speed and function, it is not designed to restore muscle function.” (Exactly what Peter Levine writes about).
“We looked at whether stimulation of the peroneal nerve during walking would retrain the temporal activation of the tibialis anterior muscle,” she said.
For the study, 4 patients more than 3 months post right-sided stroke completed 10 walking trials (5 with and 5 without stimulator) at baseline and after 4 weeks of using a commercial device (WalkAide).
“We found a potential training effect in all participants,” said Dr. Nolan. “These results indicate that use of the stimulator may facilitate recovery of muscle function.”
SOURCE: Kessler Foundation