Feasibility of combining gait robot and multichannel functional electrical stimulation with intramuscular electrodes.
After stroke rehabilitation, many survivors of stroke exhibit persistent gait deficits. In previous work, we demonstrated significant gains in gait kinematics for survivors of chronic stroke using multichannel functional electrical stimulation with intramuscular electrodes (FES-IM). For this study, we tested the feasibility of combining FES-IM and gait robot technologies for treating persistent gait deficits after stroke. Six subjects, >or= 6 months after stroke, received 30-minute intervention sessions of combined FES-IM and gait robotics 4 days a week for 12 weeks. Feasibility was assessed according to three factors: (1) performance of the interface of the two technologies during intervention sessions, (2) clinicians' success in using two technologies simultaneously, and (3) subject satisfaction. FES-IM system hardware and software design features combined with the gait robot technology proved feasible to use. Each technology alone provided unique advantages and disadvantages of gait practice characteristics. Because of the unique advantages and disadvantages of each technology, gait deficits need to be accurately identified and a judicious treatment plan properly targeted before FES-IM, a gait robot, or both combined are selected.
McCabe
Jessica P
JP
Cognitive and Motor Learning Laboratory, Cleveland FES Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. JessicaPMcCabe@hotmail.com
Dohring
Mark E
ME
Marsolais
E Byron
EB
Rogers
Jean
J
Burdsall
Richard
R
Roenigk
Kristen
K
Pundik
Svetlana
S
Daly
Janis J
JJ
D000368:Aged; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012371:Robotics; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation