A basic study on improvement of gait of a hemiplegic subject by a body weight supported lift and FES foot drop correction

Abstract

Hemiplegic subjects often show abnormal gait such as a circumduction gait. It is difficult for the subjects to acquire practical walking ability because of the abnormal gait. A body weight supported (BWS) training has been used clinically to improve the symmetry of gait pattern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a variation in the symmetry of gait pattern by applying a BWS lift to hemiplegic patients by using inertial sensors. In this report, gait with the BWS lift and foot drop correction by FES was measured with a hemiplegic subject. The BWS lift with FES foot drop correction improved the limping gait and the symmetry of the gait pattern, while limping gait was not improved only by the BWS lift.