Quantitative Gait Evaluation of Hemiplegic Patients Using Electrical Stimulation Orthoses

Abstract

Although the functional electrical stimulation orthosis is one of the most recent approaches to the rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients, the quantitative estimate of its influence on the patients walking is not satisfactorily solved. In this communication the variables necessary for gait evaluation are defined and two quantitative methods for their interpretation are given. The second method was tested on eight hemiplegic patients. The results show the applicability of the described techniques of evaluation.