Does the drop-foot stimulator improve walking in hemiplegia?

This article presents an overview of the research and clinical experience of the use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for the treatment of drop-foot in hemiplegia. The article reviews the evidence from the literature over the past 10 years to answer the question posed in the title. A description and explanation of drop-foot stimulation is followed by a review and discussion of the literature based on a search of the databases Medline, Cinhal, and Embase from 1990 to 2000, using the key words: stimulation and hemiplegia and (common and peroneal) or (functional and electrical) and (walking or gait) and drop* foot). Nine papers were reviewed, only one of which was a randomized controlled trial. Quality of research is criticized and the need for rigorous clinical studies, technological development, and collaboration between clinicians and engineers is argued. The drop foot stimulator does improve walking in hemiplegia, but factors such as patient and clinician education, reliability of equipment, and selection of patients, are important.