The immediate effect of FES and TENS on gait parameters in patients after stroke

[Purpose] This study was conducted to compare the immediate effects of different electrotherapies on the gait parameters for stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty patients with stroke were randomly assigned either to the functional electrical stimulation group or the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group, with 15 patients in each group. Each electrotherapy was performed for 30 minutes simultaneously with the therapeutic exercise, and the changes in the spatial and temporal parameters of gait were measured. [Results] After the intervention, a significant, immediate improvement in cadence and speed was observed only in the functional electrical stimulation group. [Conclusion] Based on this study, functional electrical stimulation that stimulates motor nerves of the dorsiflexor muscles on the paretic side is recommended to achieve immediate improvement in the gait ability of stroke patients.