Influence of functional electrical stimulation of the hamstrings on knee kinematics in stroke survivors walking with stiff knee gait.

Conclusion: The results of this exploratory study suggest an increase in knee kinematics in swing after functional electrical stimulation of the hamstrings in stroke survivors walking with a stiff knee gait. The largest improvement in peak knee flexion in swing was seen when participants walked with hamstring stimulation. Participants with low neurological impairment responded better to hamstring stimulation, and there are indications that the effect of hamstring stimulation can be predicted during a single session. The effect of functional electrical stimulation is comparable to that of more invasive treatment options, such as botulinum toxin (BTX) or soft-tissue surgery. This makes functional electrical stimulation a feasible treatment option for daily clinical practice. PMID: 29944167 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine - Category: Rehabilitation Tags: J Rehabil Med Source Type: research