Effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation combined with locomotion-like movement in the treatment of post-stroke gait disorder: a single-case study. Short report.

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the effects of electrical stimulation combined with locomotion-like movement (ES/LM) for improving gait disorder in a stroke patient. A four-phase ABAB single-subject design with five therapy sessions per phase was employed. In the intervention phases, transcutaneous electrical stimulation was applied to the tibialis anterior (at the end of the hip extension phase and in the initial hip flexion phase) and the soleus (in the initial hip extension phase) during passive hip flexion and extension. To assess improvement, the soleus H-reflex and the ambulatory function were measured (gait velocity and step length). Application of ES/LM resulted in a decrease of the soleus H-reflex and significant increase of gait velocity and step length. These findings suggest that ES/LM is a feasible treatment method for impaired ambulatory function in stroke patients at the subacute stage after the event.