Comparison of percutaneous and surface functional electrical stimulation during gait in a child with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
The purpose of this brief report was to compare the immediate effects of surface functional electrical stimulation (S-FES) and percutaneous functional electrical stimulation (P-FES) of the tibialis anterior applied during gait in a child with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. A three-dimensional gait analysis was conducted while an 11-yr-old girl with right hemiplegia walked with S-FES, P-FES, and no stimulation. The results indicated that both P-FES and S-FES increased dorsiflexion at initial contact, peak dorsiflexion in swing, and mean dorsiflexion in swing compared with walking without stimulation. The increase in dorsiflexion was greater with P-FES as compared with S-FES. Ankle absorption work was improved with both types of stimulation, whereas ankle generation work increased only with P-FES. This report suggests that S-FES and P-FES may have different immediate effects on gait due to issues such as muscle contraction strength, sensory feedback, and control systems for stimulation.
Pierce
Samuel R
SR
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
Orlin
Margo N
MN
Lauer
Richard T
RT
Johnston
Therese E
TE
Smith
Brian T
BT
McCarthy
James J
JJ
D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome