title: Quantification of gait kinematics and walking ability of people with multiple sclerosis who are new users of functional electrical stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether the application of Functional Electrical Stimulation improves gait kinematics and walking ability in people with multiple sclerosis who experience foot drop.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute open labelled comparative observation trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve people (3 females, 9 males, EDSS 2-4) with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (47.8 years (standard deviation 6.6)) who were new users of functional electrical stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gait kinematics were recorded using 3D gait analysis. Walking ability was assessed through the 10-m walk test and the 6-min walk test. All assessments were performed with and without the assistance of functional electrical stimulation. The effect of functional electrical stimulation was analysed using paired t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact (p = 0.026), knee flexion at initial contact (p = 0.044) and peak knee flexion during swing (p = 0.011) were significantly greater whilst walking with Functional Electrical Stimulation. The increased peak dorsiflexion in swing of nearly 4 degrees during functional electrical stimulation assisted walking approached significance (p = 0.069). The 10-m walk time was significantly improved by functional electrical stimulation (p = 0.004) but the 6 min walk test was not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acute application of functional electrical stimulation resulted in an orthotic effect through a change in ankle and knee kinematics and increased walking speed over a short distance in people with multiple sclerosis who experience foot drop.
authors: School of Health Science, Queen Margaret University, EH21 6UU Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Sasha M
authors: SM
authors: Scott
authors: Marietta L
authors: ML
authors: van der Linden
authors: Julie E
authors: JE
authors: Hooper
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Cowan
authors: Thomas H
authors: TH
authors: Mercer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*