Experience of clinical use of the Odstock dropped foot stimulator.
The Odstock dropped foot stimulator (ODFS) is a simple functional electrical stimulation (FES) device for the correction of dropped foot. Improved reliability, fine control of stimulation parameters, and careful application and follow-up have let to 86% compliance. Data on 56 patients (50 patients with hemiplegia, 5 patients with multiple sclerosis, and 1 patient with spinal cord injury) who have used the system for between 6 and 18 months are presented and show a statistically significant increase in walking speed with the stimulator at 3 months of 14% (p < 0.001); decreased effort of walking, measured as physiological cost index (PCI), of 37% (p < 0.001); and statistically significant improvement in functional mobility tests and questionnaires. No statistically significant carryover was seen although 3 patients had sufficient improvement in active ankle control and gait parameters to no longer need the stimulator. Six patients who used the stimulator all day every day had a problem with skin irritation, which we have not yet been able to solve. Two patients discontinued use after experiencing increased spasticity in the calf.
Burridge
J
J
Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Salisbury District Hospital, Wiltshire, UK.
Taylor
P
P
Hagan
S
S
Swain
I
I
D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology