Essay On Hemiparesis

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Effects of Dual-Channel Functional Electrical Stimulation on
Gait Performance in Patients with Hemiparesis
Christina Bates, Kristy Hardy, Laurey Long, Lan Sutton
South University- Savannah
PTA 1001: Introduction to Physical Therapy Assistant
Dr. Bukoskey There are an estimated 6.5 million stroke survivors in the country. Twenty percent of stroke survivors suffer from foot drop, the inability to raise the foot (WLS-TV Chicago, 2010). Lower limb hemiparesis and foot drop affects gait, which can have an impact on normal daily activities. One of the main goals of patients with hemiparesis is to be able to walk independently and return to their normal activities. Physical therapists know that poor gait from ankle and /or knee joint problems can affect the pelvis, lower back, spine and neck as the body tries to compensate for the defective gait. Using electrical stimulation to treat hemiparesis and foot drop can help a patient achieve functional gait and return to their normal activities.
Hemiparesis that affects the peroneal nerve preventing dorsiflexors muscles from lifting the toes up when walking causes the toes to drag, impairing gait. Hemiparesis can also affect the knee flexor and extensor muscles which are important for “shock absorption, assisting with foot clearance and balance control” (Sadeghi, H. et al., 2002, p. 51). Physical therapists know that poor gait can affect the pelvis, lower back, spine and neck as the body tries to compensate for unilateral weakness of the lower limbs. The sooner a patient can achieve normal gait the less likely they are to suffer permanent damage and the quicker they can return to their normal lives and activity levels.
There are three main physical therapy treatments for foot drop:...

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... component analysis, The Knee, 9(1), 47-53.
Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedirect.com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/ science/article/pii/S096801600100134X

Springer, S., Vatine, J., Lipson, R., Wolf, A., Laufer, Y., (2012), Effects of dual-channel functional electrical stimulation on gait performance in patients with hemiparesis, The Scientific World Journal, 2012(5), article ID 530906, doi:10.1100/2012/530906
Winchester, P., Montgomery, J., Bowman, B., & Hislop, H. (1983). Effect of feedback stimulation training and cyclical electrical stimulation on knee extension in hemiparetic patients, Physical Therapy Journal, 63(7), 1096-1103. http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/63/7/1096.full.pdf+html WLS-TV Chicago (2010). Fixing foot drop, WLS-TV Chicago. Retrieved from http:// www.stroke.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9472&news_iv_ctrl=-

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