Multichannel electrical stimulation of gait in motor disabled patients

Effects of surface multichannel electrical stimulation of the leg muscles during gait were evaluated by a clinical kinesiological analysis of gait and measurements of average step length, gait velocity, ground reaction forces, and joint angles. Direct effects in 11 stimulated motor disabled patients showed 56% improvement at the kinesiological gait analysis during the stimulation. Long term effects of the multichannel therapy were compared in a threeyear control study with a group of ten nonstimulated patients. At the kinesiological analysis, the stimulated group improved 1.75 times better after 2.5 months of the treatment. The other measurements revealed higher and faster improvement at the stimulated group with a partial decrease of the therapeutic effects after a longer period without treatment. Orthotic multichannel stimulation was indicated after the multichannel therapy in the clinical environment, where the stimulation of proximal leg muscles was favored.