The Effectiveness of Functional Electrical Stimulation for Patients with FootDystonia: A Case Report

Introduction: Foot dystonia, a frequent complication in stroke patients with foot drop, is traditionally managed with ankle-foot orthosis (AFO). Functional electrical stimulation (FES) offers a dynamic alternative to improve gait. This case report evaluates the effectiveness of FES in a post-stroke patient with foot dystonia. Methods and Materials: A 25-year-old man with left-sided foot dystonia and partial foot drop after a right middle cerebral artery infarct received treatment using the ODFS Pace FES device. Participants in the intervention were asked to stimulate their left dorsiflexors and evertors during walking for 40 minutes each day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks, along with traditional physiotherapy. Measurements of outcome were made with ROM for the ankle, Berg Balance Scale scores, 10-Meter Walk Test results and the degree to which individuals felt sure or strong while walking. Results: The patient still had difficulties with foot twisting following intervention, but said they felt their stamin There was not much change in ankle range of motion with dorsiflexion at 19° rising to 20° and eversion rising from 40° to 41°. The average speed at which participants walked on the 10MWT improved very slightly, from 0.678 m/s to 0.692 m/s. Conclusions: FES may serve as an adjunctive therapy for post-stroke foot dystonia, enhancing endurance and confidence but with limited impact on dystonic symptoms. Larger, controlled studies are needed to establish its efficacy and optimal protocols.