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Research Highlights
Neuromuscular stimulation aids walking after stroke
January 5, 2006
Functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS)-a method of stimulating weak or paralyzed leg muscles using implanted electrodes and an external controller worn on the belt-can significantly improve the walking ability of chronic stroke patients, according to Dr. Janis Daly and her team at the Cleveland VA Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University. They studied 32 patients who had suffered a stroke more than a year earlier. One group was treated with a variety of well-established stroke therapies, while the other group received the same regimen plus FNS. After 12 weeks, the FNS group showed greater walking ability and reported 53 functional milestones-such as walking a mile or doing errands-compared to only 11 in the non-FNS group.
Daly JJ, Roenigk K, Holcomb J, Rogers JM, Butler K, Gansen J, McCabe J, Fredrickson E, Marsolais EB, Ruff RL. A randomized controlled trial of functional neuromuscular stimulation in chronic stroke subjects.
Stroke. 2006 Jan;37(1):172-8. Epub 2005 Dec 1.
Page Last Updated: 05/05/06
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