NeuroRehabilitation 41 (2017) 791–800 DOI:10.3233/NRE-172153 IOS Press 791 Novel multi-pad functional electrical stimulation in stroke patients: A single-blind randomized study Suzana Dedijer Dujovi´ c a,∗ , Jovana Maleˇ sevi´ c b , Nebojˇ sa Maleˇ sevi´ c c , Aleksandra S. Vidakovi´ c d , Goran Bijeli´ c e , Thierry Keller e and Ljubica Konstantinovi´ c d a The University of Belgrade, Serbia and Clinic for rehabilitation “Dr M.Zotovic”, Belgrade, Serbia b The University of Belgrade and Tecnalia Serbia Ltd., Belgrade, Serbia c Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Belgrade, Serbia d Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade and Clinic for rehabilitation “Dr M.Zotovic”, Belgrade, Serbia e Neurorehabilitation Area at the Health Division of TECNALIA, San Sebastian, Spain Abstract. BACKGROUND: Foot drop is common gait impairment after stroke. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles during the swing phase of gait can help correcting foot drop. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of additional novel FES system to conventional therapy in facilitating motor recovery in the lower extremities and improving walking ability after stroke. METHODS: Sixteen stroke patients were randomly allocated to the FES group (FES therapy plus conventional rehabilitation program) (n = 8), and control group (conventional rehabilitation program) n = 8. FES was delivered for 30 min during gait to induce ankle plantar and dorsiflexion. Main outcome measures: gait speed using 10 Meter Walk Test (10 MWT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and modified Barthel Index (MBI). RESULTS: Results showed a significant increase in gait speed in FES group (p < 0.001), higher than the minimal detected change. The FES group showed improvement in functional independence in the activities of daily living, motor recovery and gait performance. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that novel FES therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation is more effective on walking speed, mobility of the lower extremity, balance disability and activities of daily living compared to a conventional rehabilitation program only. Keywords: Foot drop, FES, stroke 1. Introduction Stroke is the leading cause of death and seri- ous long term disability in adults. Three months after stroke, 20% of individuals remain wheelchair- bound and 70% walk at reduced velocity (Sakuma, Ohata, Izumi, Shiotsuka, Yasui, Ibuki, & Ichihashi, 2014). Correcting the abnormalities of hemiplegic ∗ Address for correspondence: Suzana Dedijer Dujovi´ c, The University of Belgrade, Serbia and Clinic for rehabilitation “Dr M.Zotovic”, Sokobanjska 13, Belgrade, Serbia. Tel.: +381 658916000; E-mail: suzanadedijer@yahoo.com. gait is the most important component of rehabili- tation for independent and functional activities in daily living, community-dwelling, and social envi- ronments (Chung, Kim, Cha, & Hwang, 2014). In up to 20% of stroke patients, a persisting weak- ness of the contralateral foot is a major cause of gait impairment, usually described as “drop foot.” (Lyons, Sinkjær, Burridge, & Wilcox, 2002). The patients are not able to actively dorsiflexion the foot during the swing phase of gait, which results in undesirable compensatory movement patterns, decreased gait velocity, restricted functional mobility, 1053-8135/17/$35.00 © 2017 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved