Background. Many stroke survivors suffer from leg muscle paresis, resulting in asymmetrical gait patterns, negatively affecting balance control and energy cost. Interventions targeting asymmetry early after stroke may enhance recovery of walking. Objective. To determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of up to 10 weeks of gait training assisted by multichannel functional electrical stimulation (MFES gait training) applied to the peroneal nerve and knee flexor or extensor muscle on the recovery of gait symmetry and walking capacity in patients starting in the subacute phase after stroke. Methods. Forty inpatient participants (≤31 days after stroke) were randomized to MFES gait training (experimental group) or conventional gait training (control group). Gait training was delivered in 30-minute sessions each workday. Feasibility was determined by adherence (≥75% sessions) and satisfaction with gait training (score ≥7 out of 10). Primary outcome for efficacy was step length symmetry. Secondary outcomes included other spatiotemporal gait parameters and walking capacity (Functional Gait Assessment and 10-Meter Walk Test). Linear mixed models estimated treatment effect postintervention and at 3-month follow-up. Results. Thirty-seven participants completed the study protocol (19 experimental group participants). Feasibility was confirmed by good adherence (90% of the participants) and participant satisfaction (median score 8). Both groups improved on all outcomes over time. No significant group differences in recovery were found for any outcome. Conclusions. MFES gait training is feasible early after stroke, but MFES efficacy for improving step length symmetry, other spatiotemporal gait parameters, or walking capacity could not be demonstrated. Trial Registration. Netherlands Trial Register (NTR4762).

中文翻译：

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多通道功能性电刺激辅助步态训练在卒中早期康复中的可行性和初步疗效：一项试点随机对照试验

背景。许多中风幸存者患有腿部肌肉麻痹，导致步态模式不对称，对平衡控制和能量消耗产生负面影响。针对中风后早期不对称的干预措施可能会促进步行的恢复。客观的。确定在腓神经和膝屈肌或伸肌的多通道功能性电刺激（MFES 步态训​​练）辅助下进行长达 10 周的步态训练对恢复步态对称性和步行能力的可行性和初步疗效。中风后的亚急性期。方法。40 名住院参与者（中风后≤31 天）随机接受 MFES 步态训​​练（实验组）或常规步态训练（对照组）。步态训练在每个工作日进行 30 分钟的课程。可行性取决于依从性（≥75% 的训练）和对步态训练的满意度（10 分中的 7 分）。功效的主要结果是步长对称性。次要结果包括其他时空步态参数和步行能力（功能步态评估和 10 米步行测试）。线性混合模型估计了干预后和 3 个月随访时的治疗效果。结果。37 名参与者完成了研究方案（19 名实验组参与者）。良好的依从性（90% 的参与者）和参与者的满意度（中位数为 8 分）证实了可行性。随着时间的推移，两组的所有结果都有所改善。对于任何结果，在恢复方面没有发现显着的组间差异。结论。中风后早期 MFES 步态训​​练是可行的，但 MFES 改善步长对称性的功效，无法证明其他时空步态参数或步行能力。试用注册。荷兰试验注册 (NTR4762)。