Poster 89: The Effects of Foot Drop Stimulator on the Parameters of Functional Locomotion in Subjects with Stroke-Related Foot Drop

Objective: To determine if conventional rehabilitation program combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) applied to the ankle dorsiflexor muscles during walking through a foot drop stimulator (FDS) would influence activation of tibialis anterior (TA) and improve walking ability in individuals with stroke-related drop foot. Design: Case series Setting: Post-acute rehabilitation hospital. Participants: Individuals with stroke-related drop foot. Interventions: All study subjects received the conventional stroke rehabilitation program 5 days a week, 1h a day combined with walking while FES system based on multi-pad electrode applied, for 30min, during 4 weeks. The following outcome measurements were taken at baseline and at post-treatment. Main Outcome Measures: Surface electromyography (sEMG), gait speed using 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Results: The analyzed recorded EMG signal showed an improvement in both amplitude and frequency spectrum, which indicates an improvement in muscle power of TA treated with FES therapy. Mean increase in 10MWT was 38.7% (P <.05). The initial FMA score increased from 22.9±2.4 to 28.8±3.5 (P < .01) and BBS score increased from 36.6±7.4 to 42.0±8.5 (P < .05). Conclusions: Our data confirm that FES therapy using multi-pad electrode combined with conventional rehabilitation significantly increase muscle recruitment and improve recovery of functional locomotion in patients with stroke-related drop foot. Level of Evidence: Level IV2018 AAPM&R Annual Assembly Abstract

Cold War Football: Soviet Defence and Yugoslav Attack following the Tito-Stalin Split of 1948

This essay explores the symbolic role played by football in the Tito-Stalin Split (1948-1953). In particular, it looks at the Yugoslav national team’s victory over the Soviet Union at the 1952 Olympics in Finland. It asks how Yugoslav sports administrators, athletes and the press negotiated the transition from a position of affectionate sporting emulation of the USSR, to one of hostile opposition. Both regimes paid close attention to international sporting competition and its potential propaganda benefits. Shedding light on an early intra-socialist rupture, this case deserves to be considered alongside better known instances of sporting conflict in the Cold War

Novel multi-pad functional electrical stimulation in stroke patients : A single-blind randomized study

BACKGROUND: Foot drop is common gait impairment after stroke. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles during the swing phase of gait can help correcting foot drop. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of additional novel FES system to conventional therapy in facilitating motor recovery in the lower extremities and improving walking ability after stroke. METHODS: Sixteen stroke patients were randomly allocated to the FES group (FES therapy plus conventional rehabilitation program) (n=8), and control group (conventional rehabilitation program) n=8. FES was delivered for 30min during gait to induce ankle plantar and dorsiflexion. Main outcome measures: Gait speed using 10 Meter Walk Test (10 MWT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and modified Barthel Index (MBI). RESULTS: Results showed a significant increase in gait speed in FES group (p<0.001), higher than the minimal detected change. The FES group showed improvement in functional independence in the activities of daily living, motor recovery and gait performance. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that novel FES therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation is more effective on walking speed, mobility of the lower extremity, balance disability and activities of daily living compared to a conventional rehabilitation program only