Fes supported gait of a Hemiplegic subject - a case study

Drop foot is a condition in which normal gait is impaired by one foot being dragged on the ground. Provided that the peripheral nervous system is intact, muscle contraction and spinal reflexes can be elicited by electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves. This technique may restore the swing phase of a paralyzed leg if stimulation is synchronized with the gait cycle. This paper demonstrates a single channel drop foot stimulator developed to improve the gait pattern by stimulation of the peroneal nerve. Using this stimulator a case study was performed. The Subject was a hemiplegic individual suffering from drop foot. Stimulation and control parameters needed for a more normal gait pattern at various walking speeds are presented as well as the enhancement of the distance walked with this FES aid.