Functional electrical stimulation applied to gluteus medius and tibialis anterior corresponding gait cycle for stroke

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of functional electrical stimulation (FES) applied to the tibialis anterior and gluteus medius muscles on the improvement of the spatiotemporal parameters of gait in individuals with a hemiparetic stroke. Thirty-six patients who had suffered a herniparesis post stroke were enrolled in this study. The participants walked at a self-selected velocity on three different FES applications: (1) FES-triggered gait on the gluteus medius in the stance phase and the tibialis anterior in the swing phase (GM + TA), (2) FES-triggered gait on the tibialis anterior in the swing phase (TA only), and (3) gait without FES-triggered (Non-FES). FES was triggered when the heel in the affected lower limb was placed in contact with an on or off foot switch sensor. The effect of FES applications was assessed using GAITRite for spatiotemporal data. The gait speed, cadence, and stride length were significantly higher under the GM + TA condition than under the TA only and None-FES conditions. The gait speed, cadence and stride length were increased significantly in the TA only condition compared with the Non-FES condition. The double support time and gait symmetry were significantly improved in the GM + TA condition compared to the TA only and Non-FES conditions. These findings suggest that walking with FES of the gluteus medius in the stance phase and tibialis anterior in the swing phase can improve the spatiotemporal parameters of gait in individuals with hemiparetic stroke. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.