B a c k g r o u n d: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the intensive functional electrical stimulation(FES) on the improvement of the gait pattern of the chronic hemiplegic patients.
M e t h o d: Six hemiplegic patients, who could walk independently but have equinovarus deformity during the gait cycle, participated in this study. The affected peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles of all subjects were stimulated for 2 weeks period (20 minutes duration, 6 times/day). We measured the activities (mean voltage) of those muscles during the walking, using dynamic EMG.
Results: After treatment, there were significant improvements in the strength of peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles and the gait speed, but there was no interval change of the spasticity of plantar flexor. The mean voltages of two muscles are significantly increased in all the patients (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that the intensive FES on affected peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles in chronic hemiplegic patients could be useful for the improvement of functional gait.
