Clinical use of the Odstock dropped foot stimulator: Its effect on the speed and effort of walking

Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness of the Odstock dropped foot stimulator by analysis of its effect on physiological cost index (PCI) and speed of walking, This functional electrical stimulation (FES) device stim ulates the common peroneal nerve during the swing phase of gait. Design: A retrospective study of patients who had used the device for 4% mo nths. Subjects: One hundred fifty-one patients with a dropped foot resulting from an upper motor neuron lesion. Setting: A medical physics and biomedical engineering department of a distr ict general hospital specializing in the clinical application of FES and a neurophysiotherapy department at a separate hospital. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in walking speed and effort of walking, as m easured by PCI over a 10-meter course. Results: There was a 92.7% compliance with treatment. Stroke patients showe d a mean increase in walking speed of 27% (p < .01) and reduction in PCI of 31% (p < .01) with stimulation, and changes of 14% (p < .01) and 19% (p < .01), respectively, while not using the stimulator. Multiple sclerosis pati ents gained similar orthotic benefit but no "carry-over." Conclusions: The measured differences in walking with and without stimulati on were statistically significant in the stroke and multiple sclerosis grou ps. In this study use of the stimulator improved walking, Those with stroke demonstrated a shortterm "carry-over" effect. (C) 1999 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Americ an Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.