Abstract
Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to verify therapeutical effect of periodical functional electrical stimulation of peroneal nerve during 4 weeks of intensive outpatient therapy on speed and performance of gait in post-stroke patients, suffering from spastic leg paresis. Methods: 14 subjects were enrolled into this pilot study (10 male, 4 female), aged 54,4 +- 9,4.
The subjects were selected from patients suffering from chronic phase of stroke, spactic leg paresis and drop foot syndrome. Functional electrical stimulation was performed in total for 4 weeks (5 days weekly) as intensive ambulatory gait training with WalkAide neurostimulator.
Emory Functional Ambulation Profile and Two Minute Walk Test were performed for evaluation of changes in speed of gait on different terrains and changes in the walking performance, respectively. Results: In this pilot study, average improvement of Emory Functional Ambulation Profile score of 11% was observed as well as average improvement of Two Minute Walk Test of 9%.
Conclusion: Positive therapeutic effect of periodical ambulatory functional electrical stimulation of peroneal nerve on gait speed and gait performance in post-stroke patients was observed in this limited pilot study. Further research, including randomized controlled study featuring larger data sample, is needed to show significant evidence of the observed effect.