title: Effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation on walking speed, functional walking category, and clinically meaningful changes for people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on drop foot in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), using data from standard clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with a consecutive sample of FES users collected between 2008 and 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialist FES center at a district general hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with MS who have drop foot (N=187) (117 women, 70 men; mean age, 55y [range, 27-80y]; mean duration since diagnosis, 11.7y [range, 1-56y]). A total of 166 patients were still using FES after 20 weeks, with 153 patients completing the follow-up measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  FES of the common peroneal nerve (178 unilateral, 9 bilateral FES users).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinically meaningful changes (ie, >.05m/s and >0.1m/s) and functional walking category derived from 10-m walking speed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase in walking speed was found to be highly significant (P<.001), both initially where a minimum clinically meaningful change was observed (.07m/s) and after 20 weeks with a substantial clinically meaningful change (.11m/s). After 20 weeks, treatment responders displayed a 27% average improvement in their walking speed. No significant training effect was found. Overall functional walking category was maintained or improved in 95% of treatment responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FES of the dorsiflexors is a well-accepted intervention that enables clinically meaningful changes in walking speed, leading to a preserved or an increased functional walking category.
authors.affiliation: National Clinical FES Centre, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK. Electronic address: tamsyn.street@salisburyfes.com.
authors.forename: Tamsyn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Street
authors.affiliation: National Clinical FES Centre, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: National Clinical FES Centre, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK; Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Swain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016138:Walking
keywords: Drop foot; Electric stimulation; Multiple sclerosis; Peroneal nerve; Rehabilitation