The Effect of Using Functional Electric Stimulation for the Recovery of Dorsiflexion During Rehabilitation of Gait Function, in the Subacute Phase After Stroke- a Randomized Controlled Exploratory Study
The purpose of this project is to investigate the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) for recovery of dorsiflexion after stroke. It will be led from the University Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Danderyd Hospital (RMDS) in collaboration with the MoveAbility Lab at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Patients referred to RMDS for inpatient rehabilitation early after hemiparetic stroke will be included. The overall aim is to explore how 4 weeks of training incorporating the FES-system (L300 Go System ® Bioness, Ottobock) effect function of the lower extremity, gait function and mobility when compared to conventional training only, in the subacute stage after stroke.
• 20 participants with hemiplegia
• Dependence in ambulation (0- 4 according to the Functional Ambulation Categories)
• \>= 50 points on the Trunc Control Test.
• Impaired dorsiflexion manifested as impaired voluntarily dorsiflex and to hold the ankle in a dorsiflexed position while sitting and for ambulatory participants: during swing phase and heel strike while walking as demonstrated by visual inspection during gait analysis performed by the physiotherapist.
• Recommended to be fitted with an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) by an experienced physiotherapist.
• Able to understand study information and to give informed consent.