BACKGROUND: Dropped foot is a common problem following multiple sclerosis. Functional electrical stimulation can elicit an active muscle contraction providing dorsiflexion and eversion. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the Odstock dropped foot stimulator (ODFS), improved activities of daily living for people with multiple sclerosis. METHOD: 64 people with unilateral dropped foot due to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis took part in a randomized controlled trial. Research volunteers were assigned to a group using the ODFS or a group who received physiotherapy exercises for 18 weeks. Outcome measures were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and a falls diary. RESULTS: Results of 53 research volunteers are reported. Improvements in performance and satisfaction scores were greater in the ODFS group than the exercise group; (p < 0.05). Use of the ODFS was also perceived as effective in reducing tripping and increasing walking distance. The median number of falls were 5 in the ODFS group and 18 in the exercise group (p = 0.036) over the study period. CONCLUSION: The study shows that people with multiple sclerosis using the ODFS increased their COPM performance and satisfaction scores of their identified problems of activities of daily living more than a matched group who received physiotherapy exercises. ODFS users also experienced fewer falls.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Dropped foot is a common problem following multiple sclerosis. Functional electrical stimulation can elicit an active muscle contraction providing dorsiflexion and eversion. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the Odstock dropped foot stimulator (ODFS), improved activities of daily living for people with multiple sclerosis. METHOD: 64 people with unilateral dropped foot due to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis took part in a randomized controlled trial. Research volunteers were assigned to a group using the ODFS or a group who received physiotherapy exercises for 18 weeks. Outcome measures were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and a falls diary. RESULTS: Results of 53 research volunteers are reported. Improvements in performance and satisfaction scores were greater in the ODFS group than the exercise group; (p < 0.05). Use of the ODFS was also perceived as effective in reducing tripping and increasing walking distance. The median number of falls were 5 in the ODFS group and 18 in the exercise group (p = 0.036) over the study period. CONCLUSION: The study shows that people with multiple sclerosis using the ODFS increased their COPM performance and satisfaction scores of their identified problems of activities of daily living more than a matched group who received physiotherapy exercises. ODFS users also experienced fewer falls.
Authors: Sara Hayes; Rose Galvin; Catriona Kennedy; Marcia Finlayson; Christopher McGuigan; Cathal D Walsh; Susan Coote Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-11-28
Authors: Marietta L van der Linden; Julie E Hooper; Paula Cowan; Belinda B Weller; Thomas H Mercer Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-08-18 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Mitchell E Tyler; Kurt A Kaczmarek; Kathy L Rust; Alla M Subbotin; Kimberly L Skinner; Yuri P Danilov Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2014-05-01 Impact factor: 4.262