The Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Gait Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Objective: To evaluate the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the motor function and gait in children with cerebral palsy. Method: Sixteen ambulant children (8 females, 8 males) with diplegic (n=12) or hemiplegic (n=4) cerebral palsy participated in this study. All were randomly assigned to either the FES (n=8) or control (n=8) group. Both groups received physical therapy based on neurodevelopmental technique for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week for a period of 6 weeks. The FES group was treated with additional neuromuscular electrical therapy over quadriceps, hamstring, and ankle dorsiflexor on affected legs. Modified Ashworth scale, active range of motion of affected ankle and knee joints, motricity index for strength, gross motor function measure (GMFM), and gait analysis were performed before and after treatments. Results: The strength of lower limbs, section of D (standing), E (walking-running-jumping) and total of GMFM, and maximal range of motion of knee from sagittal kinematic data improved significantly in FES group (p＜0.05). In FES group, change values of before and after treatments to the strength of lower limbs, and section of D and total of GMFM were significantly improved compared to control group (p＜0.05). There was no serious side effect. Conclusion: This study suggests that FES in children with cerebral palsy may be a safe and beneficial therapeutic technique in improving the leg strength and gross motor function. However, we could not find any superior changes then control in gait kinematics of FES group. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 624-631)