Feasibility study of a take-home array-based functional electrical stimulation system with automated setup for...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Foot-drop, a common impairment resulting from neurological conditions, significantly affects mobility and quality of life.
• Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is a widely used intervention to manage foot-drop by stimulating muscles to lift the foot during the swing phase of gait.
• Current FES systems often require manual setup, which can be time-consuming and challenging for users, particularly in community settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of unsupervised community use of a novel array-based automated setup FES system for individuals with foot-drop.
• To evaluate user satisfaction, setup efficiency, and functional outcomes associated with the automated FES system in a real-world environment.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility study involving 7 participants with chronic unilateral foot-drop due to central neurological conditions.
• Participants used an array-based automated setup FES system (ShefStim) in their community settings for an unspecified duration.
• Data collection included logged usage, automated setup times, diary entries of problems, and laboratory-based assessments of walking speed, ankle kinematics, and user satisfaction (QUEST 2.0).

Main Results:

• All participants successfully used the automated FES system in unsupervised community settings.
• While total and automated setup times were longer compared to existing systems and previous studies, user satisfaction was comparable.
• The automated FES system demonstrated comparable or improved walking speed, ankle angles at initial contact, and foot clearance during swing compared to baseline or existing systems.

Conclusions:

• The array-based automated setup FES system is feasible for unsupervised community use by individuals with foot-drop.
• Despite longer setup times and some user-reported issues, the system is well-tolerated and effective in addressing foot-drop impairments.
• Further development and larger-scale studies are warranted to confirm the long-term efficacy and clinical utility of this innovative FES technology.