Advances in neuroprosthetic management of foot drop: a review

This paper reviews technological and clinical advances in neuroprosthetic management of foot drop, a gait impairment resulting from neurological conditions. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is examined for its corrective abilities in patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. The review identifies progress in neuroprosthetic technology over the last two decades, focusing on architecture, sensor integration, and control algorithms. It also assesses current evidence on functional and clinical efficacy of these systems. The authors highlight the importance of self-adjusting systems and closed-loop control for modulating assistance according to individual needs. They note that advanced strategies like combining variable and constant frequency pulses could reduce fatigue and improve therapeutic outcomes.

• 1
  Systems capable of self-adjustment and closed-loop control are crucial for modulating assistance in individual conditions to adequately assist the patient.
• 2
  Combining variable and constant frequency pulses (VFTs and CFTs) could reduce fatigue and improve therapeutic results.
• 3
  There is a lack of long-term clinical studies addressing the therapeutic potential of FES systems for foot drop.