Multiple sclerosis patients and stroke victims take a step towards cure
A NERVOUS stroke results
in the patient losing his
ability to lift his foot up; he
has to drag his foot along
the ground for walking.
Such neurological disabilities call for re-educating and
exercising the impaired
muscles.
Keeping this in view, a
research team headed by Ian
Swain at the Salisbury
Hospital in the UK, devel-ped the odstock iropped
Stimulator (ODFS)Foot to
treat multiple sclerosis suf-erers and stroke victims. It is reported
that patients undergoing hysiotherapy
in this hospital using the new device
have benefited greatly, (Spectrurn, No
247, July-August, 1995).
The ows is a neuro-muscular device
powered by a 9-volt battery - not bigger than a TV remote control. The device
has 2 components - a triggering switch
and some electrodes. The former can be
either a force-sensitive foot switch
placed under the heel in a patient's
shoes, or a hand switch controlled by a
patient or the therapist. The electrodes
are fixed on the skin which send electrical pulses through them. When the
patient lifts one heel off the ground,
the switch is activated. As a result, electrical impulses are sent through the electrodes placed on the skin that in turn
stimulate the nerves. This causes the
appropriate muscles to contract, and as
a result, the foot automatically lifts off
the ground. The usage of the
ODFS, which is called the Functional
Electrical Stimulation (FFs), has become
an integral part of the rehabilitation and
physiotherapy progranune in this clinic.
fan Swain now aims at making a
wheelchair-bound patient stand up
right at the click of a switch. That
involves developing FES for application
to spinal injury.ln this system electrodes
would be connected to the nerves
which attach themselves to the spinal
cord. An electronic stimulator would
be implanted in the spinal cord in the
similar way a pacemaker is implanted in
the heart of a patient suffering from
coronary disorders.
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