Electrical impulses could improve walking in Parkinson’s patients_21640

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Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) uses electrical impulses to stimulate weak or paralyzed muscles and it usually helps stroke or multiple sclerosis patients to walk.,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
The researchers discovered have found considerable significant evidence that FES can straight away reduce falls in Parkinsons patients, and can also improve average stride length, speed of gait and distance walked.
Stimulation is triggered in FES by a footswitch usually placed in the heel of the shoe. As the heel rises stimulation starts, continues as the leg swings through and stops when the heel strikes the ground,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, continuing this cycle as the person walks, explained Mann.
Now,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, Geraldine E. Mann of Salisbury Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in England has successfully used FES to help patients of Parkinsons disease as well.
Parkinsons patients are prone to tripping and falling as they not only face difficulty in picking up their feet consistently, but also in starting and maintaining walking.
The study is published in Neuromodulation. (ANI)
Washington ,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, June 3 (ANI): Using a technique called Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) may help improve walking for people suffering from neurodegenerative disease Parkinsons,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, finds a new study.
Electrical impulses could improve walking in Parkinson’s patients
While its known that visual and auditory cues and cognitive strategies can improve walking ability in Parkinsons sufferers, but this is the first time that that FES has been considered as a potential aid.
Scientists have also shown that carryover or learning effect for improvements gained during FES use also continues even when stimulation has stopped.
Mann said that while a larger study is required to support these findings, they are interesting and deserve further investigation for the sake of people with Parkinsons disease for whom there is little treatment other than medication to alleviate the problems they have with walking. FES could make a big difference to their quality of life and provide therapists with an additional and much needed treatment modality.