Contributions to computerized analysis and evaluation of walking in multiple sclerosis

Abstract
The aim of the present study consists in completing certain prospective, randomized studies concerning the efficiency of electrical functional stimulation and represented by both the completion of a prospective study regarding efficiency of functional electrical stimulation in walking rehabilitation at patients with multiple sclerosis and the use of last generation non-invasive methods in analyzing and quantifying the results.
Material and method. The present paper is a case report regarding the results obtained after application of functional electrical stimulation to a patient with multiple sclerosis. Evaluation of walking before and during functional electrical stimulation was made through image processing methods - SIMI Motion System.
Results. The data results are presented in terms of speed, velocity for the walking specific parameters and phases and in the graph form and analysis of the resulting curves. Analyzing the results we can notice the characteristics of the patient`s walking, namely paretico spastic walking with bilateral crural motor deficiency and pyramidal hypertonia. We can also observe the accurate walking improvements while using functional electrical stimulation.
Conclusions. Functional electrical stimulation offers an alternative within the rehabilitation treatment in multiple sclerosis. On the basis of these preliminary results we sustain the hypothesis that identification of certain analysis walking patterns of patients with MS usable for pre and post evaluation of FES therapy will offer a viable instrument in treating this disease successfully at international level.

Key words:

multiple sclerosis, alternative therapies, functional electrical stimulation, SIMI Motion