ABSTRACT The purpose of this case study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of functional electrically stimulated (FES)-ambulation training on locomotor function and psychological well-being in a 50 year-old women, 8 months post-stroke. The (FES)-ambulation training was performed at a frequency of 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Outcome measures for locomotor function included the 6-minute walk test, the 10 meter walk test and the timed get-up-and-go test. Measures of psychological well-being included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Center of Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D), the Perceived Quality of Life Scale (PQOL) and an internally developed 8-item questionnaire regarding task self-efficacy for walking. Following training, the participant made improvements in the 6-minute walk test (165.2 m to 242 m), the 10 meter walk test (0.35 m/s to 0.69 m/s) and the timed get-up-and-go test (32.7 s to 14.9 s), and these outcomes continued to improve though 8 weeks of follow-up. The participant also showed decreased stress and depression and increased task self-efficacy and quality of life, however, only the latter two outcomes remained improved after follow-up. In conclusion, FES-ambulation training may be a promising means to improve locomotor function and psychological well-being in individuals who have suffered a stroke.
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