title: Effect of a 2-week trial of functional electrical stimulation on gait function and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Footdrop is a common gait deviation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) leading to impaired gait and balance as well as decreased functional mobility. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) provides an alternative to the current standard of care for footdrop, an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO). FES stimulates the peroneal nerve and activates the dorsiflexor muscles, producing an active toe clearance and a more normal gait. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of a 2-week FES Home Assessment Program on gait speed, perceived walking ability, and quality of life (QOL) among people with MS-related footdrop.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the Timed 25-Foot Walk test (T25FW) and two self-report measures: 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) and 29-item Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29). Measures were taken without FES before and with FES after 2 weeks of full-time FES wear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19 participants (10 female, 9 male) completed the study; mean age and duration of disease were 51.77 ± 10.16 and 9.01 ± 7.90 years, respectively. Use of FES for 2 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in time to complete the T25FW (P < .0001), the MSWS-12 standardized score (P < .0001), and the MSIS-29 total (P < .0001), Physical subscale (P < .0001), and Psychological subscale (P = .0006) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that use of FES can significantly improve gait speed, decrease the impact of MS on walking ability, and improve QOL in people with MS-related footdrop even over a short period of time.
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Abbey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Ryn
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fecko
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aiken
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawers
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McInerny
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Passariello
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic, Torrington, CT, USA (AD); Wethersfield, CT, USA (DVR); Woburn, MA, USA (AF); Somersworth, NH, USA (CA); Greenville, NC, USA (SM); Seattle, WA, USA (SS); Albany, NY, USA (TM); Columbia, SC, USA (KM); and New London, CT, USA (LP); and Innovative Neurotronics, Galveston, TX, USA (HR).
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rogers