In Germany, around 270,000 people are affected by a stroke (also known as an apoplexy or brain insult) every year: An acute circulatory disorder interrupts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells. Severely damaged, these cells die. This results in loss of brain function, often in the form of numbness, loss of speech and vision or signs of paralysis – making a stroke the most common cause of foot drop.
As a result of the dopamine deficiency, the brain can no longer control and coordinate the body’s movements. This manifests itself in symptoms such as trembling (tremor), muscle stiffness (rigor) and slowed movement (bradykinesia). Due to the increasing difficulty in controlling motor processes, the patient’s gait pattern also deteriorates – resulting in foot drop. Functional electrical stimulation can replace the lost movement stimuli, so to speak, and thus support movement sequences: The peroneal nerve is controlled directly via electrodes on the skin and is therefore not dependent on signals from the brain – this enables the patient to walk more naturally and safely.
The innoSTEP-WL is an innovative, wireless FES system for functional electrical stimulation in cases of weak foot dorsiflexion and can help patients to improve their mobility and quality of life: Impulses are sent to the peroneal nerve (fibular nerve) via electrodes on the leg and transmitted to the shin muscle (tibialis anterior muscle) so that the foot lifts when walking. The foot lift system thus enables a more natural, safer gait pattern through electrical stimulation. In the long term, the repeated transmission of stimuli through the central nervous system together with effective EMS training can lead to neuronal realignment and a lasting improvement in gait.
Neurologists and specialists play a key role in the comprehensive care of foot drop and multiple sclerosis. A collaborative approach between different specialists ensures holistic care and individualized treatment plans.
HELLER MEDIZINTECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG has been a certified medical technology company for over 25 years and has many years of experience in designing solutions in the field of electrical nerve and muscle stimulation.
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