Restoration of walking in patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries by use of surface electrical stimulation--preliminary results.

A group of patients who are good candidates for the application of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to restore reciprocal walking is described. They have incomplete lesions of the spinal cord. Because of the degree of preserved voluntary control, proprioception and sensation some of these patients can achieve crutch assisted walking by means of multichannel electrical stimulation. In a number of cases the patient has sufficient strength and voluntary control in the upper limbs and at least one leg to provide safe standing for short periods in forearm crutches. For these patients a two channel stimulator controlled by a handswitch was applied to achieve safe and practical crutch assisted walking in a relatively short period of time.