About Functional Electrical Stimulation for foot drop

[ywy]

Hi,

I would like to get some feedback about the FES for foot drop! Which equipment or brand is now in the market and which FES is the best?

Is it really useful in treating the FOOT DROP?? Is the patients find very difficult in placing the electrode by himself at home??

I am doing a project on that!
With many thanks!:

[physiobob]

I used to use an FES unit that you put in the shoe and on the tibialis anterior. It was triggered by a sensor in the heal as it came off in last stance and it switched off during heal strike. As to it's effect it depends on the reason for the foot drop.

My early uses were with stroke patients. However I have several other patients with degenerative neuromuscular disease in which it FES is not useful.

For them i use a cast molded Silicon Ankle Foot Orthoses (SAFO).

[ywy]

Dear Bob,

SO do u find FES a good device for the foot drop problem especially in stroke case?? By the way, how much is your FES?

[physiobob]

I did find it useful in some patients. More for those with some over activity in their peroneals to help balance that out. I did not ever use it with a totally flaccid ankle.