ABSTRACT
Objective Toinvestigatetheeffectofpowerelectricalstimulation(PES)incombination withtask-specifictrainingonlowerextremitymotorfunctioninstrokepatientswithfootdrop.Methods Fifty patients with poststroke foot drop were enrolled retrospectively. They were divided into either an experimental group or a control group (n=25 in each group). The control group received routine rehabilitation treatment. On this basis,the experimental group was given PES in combination with task-oriented training. Both groups of patients were trained 2 times a day,once for 40 minutes,5 days a week for 6 weeks. The ankle active range of motion,plantar flexor muscle tension,and tibialis anterior muscle strength were determined before and after treatment. The balance and lower extremity motor function of the patients were assessed by using Berg balance scale score,Fugl-Meyer lower extremity score,modified Barthel index,and Holden walk grading. At thesametime,thewalkingspeedandsteplengthbeforeandaftertreatmentwerecompared.Results Six weeks after treatment,the ankle activity,plantar flexors tension,and tibialis anterior muscle strength scores in patients of the experimental group were improved compared with before treatment,and each indicator was significant better than the control group (t=6. 261,-6. 163,and 2. 968,respectively;all P<0. 05). Berg balance scale,walking speed and step length scores were also improved as compared with before treatment, and each indicator was better than the control group (t=10. 733,9. 074,and 9. 013,respectively;all P<0.01). The lower limb motion scores,modified Barthel indexes,and Holden walk grading scores were improved compared with before treatment,and each indicator was significantly better than the control group (t=3.261,7.573,and4.010,respectively;allP<0.05).Conclusion Usingpowerelectricalstimulation in combination with task-oriented training may effectively improve the lower extremity motor function in stroke patients with foot drop.