A quantitative method of evaluation of gait under the influence of electrical stimulation in hemiparetic patients

To improve the procedure of selecting stimulation parameters for the best functional movement, quantitative gait evaluation was investigated. Based on the information obtained by force measuring shoes and a goniometric system, the method consists of computing average values and standard deviations of ground reaction and its point of action, goniometric functions, as well as the ankle joint torque in the sagittal and frontal plane, and their graphic representation. Deviation of the measured variables with respect to the normal gait pattern is the measure of the gait quality. Stimulation parameters were adjusted so that the patient's gait pattern approached normal.