Functional electrical stimulation and ankle foot orthoses provide equivalent therapeutic effects on foot drop : a meta-analysis providing direction for future research

Prenton, S; Hollands, K; Kenney, LPJ; Onmanee, P

Abstract

Objective:
To compare the randomized controlled
trial evidence for therapeutic effects on walking of
functional electrical stimulation and ankle foot orthoses
for foot drop caused by central nervous system
conditions.
Data sources:
MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, REHABDATA, PEDro,
NIHR Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Scopus
and clinicaltrials.gov.
Study selection:
One reviewer screened titles/abstracts. Two independent reviewers then screened the full articles.
Data extraction:
One reviewer extracted data, another screened for accuracy. Risk of bias was assessed by 2 independent reviewers using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.
Data synthesis: Eight papers were eligible; 7 involving participants with stroke and 1 involving participants with cerebral palsy. Two papers reporting different measures from the same trial were grouped,
resulting in 7 synthesized randomized controlled
trials (n= 464). Meta-analysis of walking speed at
final assessment (p = 0.46), for stroke participants
(p = 0.54) and after 4–6 weeks’ use (p = 0.49) showed
equal improvement for both devices.
Conclusion: Functional electrical stimulation and ankle foot orthoses have an equally positive therapeutic effect on walking speed in non-progressive central nervous system diagnoses. The current randomized controlled trial evidence base does not
show whether this improvement translates into the
user’s own environment or reveal the mechanisms
that achieve that change. Future studies should focus
on measuring activity, muscle activity and gait
kinematics. They should also report specific device
details, capture sustained therapeutic effects and involve
a variety of central nervous system diagnoses.

Citation

Prenton, S., Hollands, K., Kenney, L., & Onmanee, P. (2017). Functional electrical stimulation and ankle foot orthoses provide equivalent therapeutic effects on foot drop : a meta-analysis providing direction for future research. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 50(2), https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2289

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 29, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Oct 25, 2017
• Publication Date: Oct 25, 2017
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1650-1977
• Publisher: Foundation for Rehabilitation Information
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2289
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2289
• Related Public URLs: https://www.medicaljournals.se/jrm/