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Objective To determine if Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) would improve ischemic pain, walking distance, and quality of life of patients with intermittent claudication. Design Single blind, randomized block, two factorial design. Patients Patients diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication (IC). Ankle Brachial Index ranged 0.4–0.9 on at least one leg. Patients were randomly assigned to experimental (FES+Walk, N=13) or control (WALK, N=14) groups. Intervention Experimental group patients received FES to the dorsiflexor and plantarflexor muscles while walking for one hour/day, six days/week for eight weeks. Control group patients received similar intervention without FES. A Follow-up period of both groups lasted eight weeks. Outcome Measures Outcome measures were taken at baseline (T0), after intervention (T1), and after follow-up (T2). Primary measures included Perceived Pain Intensity (PPI), Six Minute Walk (6MW), and Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality of Life (PADQOL). Secondary measures included Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire (ICQ) and Timed Up and Go (TUG). Results Group by time interactions in PPI were significant (P<.001) with differences of 27.9 points at T1 and 36.9 points at T2 favoring the FES+Walk group. Groups difference in Symptoms and Limitations in Physical Function of the PADQOL reached significance (T1=8.9, and T2=8.3 improvements; P=.007). ICQ was significant (T1=9.3 and T2=13.1 improvements; P=.003). Improvement in 6MW and TUG tests were similar between groups. Conclusions and Relevance Walking with FES markedly reduced ischemic pain and enhanced QOL compared to just walking. FES while walking may offer an effective treatment option for the elderly with PAD and Intermittent Claudication.

We compared the ankle joint and foot segment kinematics of pediatric cerebral palsy (CP) participants walking with and without orthoses. A six segment foot model (6SF) was used to track foot motion. Holes were cut in the study orthoses so that electromagnetic markers could be directly placed on the skin. The Hinged Ankle Foot Orthoses (HAFO) allowed a significant increase in ankle dorsiflexion as compared to the barefoot condition during gait, but significantly constrained sagittal forefoot motion and forefoot sagittal range of motion (ROM) (p < 0.01), which may be detrimental. The Solid Ankle Foot Orthoses (SAFO) constrained forefoot ROM as compared to barefoot gait (p < 0.01). The 6SF model did not confirm that the SAFO can control excessive plantarflexion for those with severe plantarflexor spasticity. The supramalleolar orthosis (SMO) significantly (p < 0.01) constrained forefoot ROM as compared to barefoot gait at the beginning and end of the stance phase, which could be detrimental. The SMO had no effects observed in the coronal plane.