Restoration of gait during two to three weeks of therapy with multichannel electrical stimulation.

Multichannel electrical stimulation was applied in 20 patients with hemiplegia secondary to stroke or head injury using a six-channel microprocessor stimulator-stride analyzer to restore independent gait and to reestablish a normal gait pattern in a two- to three-week therapy period. The therapy was followed up at every session by a stride analyzer incorporated into the stimulator. At the beginning and at the end of the therapy period, each subject's gait was measured with a ground reaction measuring system. Statistical results and observations are presented for the group of 20 subjects, and a detailed description of the results is given for one subject who is representative of the whole group. According to the measured gait characteristics, gait improved significantly in all subjects during the therapy period, resulting in a partly or completely independent gait. The subjects' posture and endurance also improved, and they spontaneously learned how to use a crutch. The measurements and visual assessment of the subjects' progress indicate that the described treatment protocol offers good prospects for faster and more efficient gait rehabilitation in severely impaired patients. To determine the efficacy of gait therapy with multichannel electrical stimulation, a comparative study of conventional therapeutic methods and the method described in this article should be conducted.

Evaluation of gait with multichannel electrical stimulation.

Short, intensive multichannel electrical stimulation therapy was evaluated in 14 hemiplegics after stroke or head injury. The stimulation of the peroneal nerve, soleus, quadriceps, hamstring, gluteus maximus, and triceps brachii muscles with individually preprogrammed sequences was applied by surface electrodes at the beginning of gait rehabilitation. The patients started walking with the support of a therapist, gradually increased the walking distance and all reached independent ambulation with a crutch after an average of 14 stimulation sessions. A portable microprocessor six-channel stimulator/stride analyzer enabled the collection of gait parameters and recording of statistical mean values of stride time, gait symmetry, right and left stance times, and their standard deviations. Without additional equipment, several hundred stimulated strides were measured during each stimulation session.