OBJECTIVES: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be used as additional device beside traditional physiotherapy protocol in clinical rehabilitation, to reeducate harmonic gait by stimulating the paretic peroneal communis nerve. The aim of our prospective research was to examine the efficiency of FES as additional treatment in post-stroke patients with drop foot symptome.

METHODS: We examined 8 post-stroke patients (age: 39.3 years), who are able to walk, but having drop foot. They received FES treatment every day for a week. We measured active range of motion (aROM), balance (Berg Balance Scale - BBS) and gait pattern (Timed Up and Go - TUG, 10-meter walk test, 3-minute walk test) before and after the one week (pre- and post examination). We made measurements without FES (preFES), with the usage of the FES device (FES) and after FES usage (postFES).

RESULTS: In case of aROM at ankle dorsiflexion [(p=0.008); 8.75°, 18.75°], inversion [(p=0.010); 25.00°, 33.13°] and eversion [(p=0.024); 13.13°, 18.75°] significant progress were found. During pre-examination between pre-FES and FES parameters significant change were in BBS [(p=0.001); 40.25, 43.88], TUG [(p=0.002); 33.87, 30.32], 10-meter [(p=0,011); 29.12, 26.97] and 3-minute walk test [(p=0.021); 69.38, 81.88] and between pre-FES and post-FES data sigificant change were in BBS [(p=0,018); 40.25, 43.88]. In the comparison of pre- and post-examination we found significant improvement in preFES data, concretely in BBS [(p<0.001); 40.25, 47;38], in TUG [(p=0,027); 33.87, 21.99] in 10-meter [(p=0,017); 29.12, 20.11] and in 3-minute [(p<0,001); 69.38, 113.13] walk tests. In FES pattern we measured significant changes in BBS [(p<0.001); 43.88, 49.5], in TUG [(p=0.027); 30.31, 19.38], in 10-meter [(p=0.025); 26.97, 18.14] and in 3-minute [(p<0.001); 80.88, 129.38] walk test.

CONCLUSIONS: As additional treatment to post stroke patients FES is effective to improve gait patterns and balance in a one week session