Gait analysis in stroke patients to assess treatments of foot-drop.

By using the combined, computerized analysis of stroboscopic photography, pattern recognition devices, electromyography and foot switch outputs, gait patterns were studied in 15 stroke patients with foot-drop. Three patients were treated with a peroneal nerve stimulator for five weeks; six received intensive physical therapy; and six received both physical therapy and biofeedback training three times a week for five weeks. Each patient was examined at initial visit and after five weeks. Based upon case evaluations, both the patients with the stimulator treatment and those with biofeedback training showed and maintained improvement of gait pattern following the treatment period. This result suggests that the biofeedback and peroneal-stimulator technique may have a common mechanism that should be exploited in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.